Marginalized by Caste, Marginalized in Education (GS Paper 2, Education)
Context
- Rising costs in higher education have become a significant barrier for many students, particularly those from marginalized communities, including Dalits. Atul Kumar, a Dalit student from a daily wage worker family, lost his admission to IIT Dhanbad because he couldn't pay the required seat booking fee of ₹17,500.
- Though the Supreme Court of India intervened, offering him admission, this incident highlights the broader issue affecting many marginalized students, where financial constraints and systemic inequalities prevent them from accessing higher education opportunities.
Struggles of Dalit Students
The challenges faced by Dalit students echo historical caste-based exclusion from educational institutions, but the current situation is more insidious. Although overt discrimination has decreased since independence, economic marginalization and caste-based prejudice still persist.
- Rising Tuition Fees:
- Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, there has been an emphasis on self-reliance for institutions, which has led to a steep rise in fees across many government colleges and universities, including prestigious institutions like IITs and IIMs.
- In 2016, IITs raised undergraduate tuition fees by 200%, from ₹90,000 to ₹3 lakh annually. Similarly, the fees for full-time M.Tech students at IIT-Delhi were increased by 100% in 2022-23.
- Government Responses:
- The Vidyalakshmi scheme was introduced to support marginalized students with interest-free loans. However, this measure is often insufficient to meet the full financial requirements of students, especially as fees continue to increase.
- Additionally, while some relief measures have been implemented, the fee hikes in institutions like IIMs and IITs disproportionately affect Dalit and marginalized students.
Impact on Marginalized Communities
The persistent rise in tuition fees has created significant barriers for students from marginalized communities, even those who secure competitive ranks in prestigious institutions. For many Dalit students, the financial strain is so overwhelming that they often drop out or never enroll at all.
- Dropout Rates:
- Many Dalit students, once enrolled in institutions like IITs, IIMs, and central universities, eventually drop out due to the inability to afford the increasing fees.
- According to Ministry of Human Resource Development, between 2017 and 2018, over 2,400 students from IITs alone dropped out due to financial constraints. More than 13,500 students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) have dropped out over the past five years.
- Caste-Based Economic Marginalization:
- Dalits continue to face caste-based economic marginalization. Despite constitutional provisions aimed at promoting equality, Dalits are often relegated to low-paying, stigmatized jobs, particularly in sectors like sewer cleaning and manual labor, with little access to better-paying or prestigious positions.
- A survey of sewer workers across 29 states found that 92% of these workers belonged to SC, ST, or OBC communities.
Caste-Based Discrimination in Education and Employment
Despite constitutional protections and welfare measures, caste-based discrimination continues to permeate Indian education systems.
- Discrimination in Higher Education:
- A 2019 report showed that 95% of faculty positions in IITs were occupied by individuals from upper caste backgrounds, despite SC, ST, and OBC communities representing 70%-80% of the population. Furthermore, data from RTI requests at IIT-Bombay revealed that many departments had no faculty members from marginalized communities, highlighting deep-rooted caste-based inequalities in higher education.
- Employment Discrimination:
- A significant disparity in caste-based representation is observed not just in education but also in the workforce. Dalit students often face additional barriers in finding employment, particularly in the tech and managerial sectors, exacerbating the challenges created by caste identity.
Barriers to Education and Emotional Toll
While Dalit students have made progress in terms of enrollment rates since independence, the barriers to education are still profound, including:
- Poverty and Social Discrimination:
- Dalit students are frequently subjected to caste-based prejudice and social isolation. Discrimination based on caste manifests in various forms, from being judged on their clothing or mannerisms to facing open caste-based remarks from peers.
- Such experiences lead to significant mental and emotional stress, contributing to tragic outcomes like suicides among Dalit students, as was the case with students from IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi.
- Family Expectations:
- Many Dalit students are under immense pressure to complete their education, as their families view it as a potential escape from poverty. However, unemployment rates in India and the high cost of education have added to the stress, often leading to mental health crises.
Conclusion
The struggles of Dalit students, particularly in the face of rising educational fees, economic marginalization, and caste-based discrimination, underscore the urgent need for systemic reforms in both education and employment sectors. The following steps could help address these issues:
- Reform in Tuition Fee Structures:
- There is a need for policies that regulate fee hikes to ensure that education remains accessible to marginalized communities.
- Caste-Based Representation in Faculty and Administration:
- Efforts should be made to ensure better caste representation in faculty positions and administrative roles within educational institutions.
- Financial Support Systems:
- Schemes like Vidyalakshmi should be strengthened and expanded, ensuring that students from marginalized communities receive adequate financial assistance to complete their education without the fear of dropout.
- Inclusive Educational Environments:
- Institutions must implement strict measures to address caste-based discrimination, ensuring that Dalit students have a safe and inclusive environment to thrive academically.
By addressing these systemic issues, India can ensure that higher education becomes a true avenue for empowerment, helping Dalit students break the chains of caste-based oppression and financial inequality.
