IIT Delhi constitutes its first SC/ST cell for students

On February 12, a first-year student at IIT-Bombay, Darshan Solanki, allegedly died by jumping from the hostel’s eighth floor.  On April 21, a second-year B.Tech Chemical Engineering student of IIT-Madras was found dead in his hostel room.

The institute denied that the rise in suicides was not the reason behind constituting the cell.

The institute also plans on incorporating a Student Grievance Redressal Committee (SGRC) under the cell, in line with a University Grants Commission notification issued on April 11.

Pravin Ingole, the SC/ST liaison officer, said: “We are taking into consideration regulations stated by the UGC in its notification and have drafted the primary procedure for the cell’s functioning. Approval is awaited.”

According to the UGC notification, “A complaint from an aggrieved student relating to the institution shall be addressed to the chairperson, student’s grievance redressal committee (SGRC).”

It further said every institution shall constitute such number of Students Grievance Redressal Committees, as may be required, to consider grievances of students, with the following composition – a professor as chairperson; four professors/senior faculty members of the institution as members; a representative from among students to be nominated on academic merit/excellence in sports/performance in co-curricular activities as special invitee.”

Ingole reiterated that the functioning of the SC/ST cell is independent and does not fall under any office in the institution, and the anonymity of each student who approaches it for help or files a complaint will be maintained.

“A new tab specifically to raise complaints regarding SC/ST matters will be added on the online ERP portal, where students can file their complaint; it will be directed to the SC/ST cell’s liaison officer. Following this, the liaison officer will direct the complaint to the SGRC for them to examine it and come up with a report to discuss solutions to resolve the complaint. This is our primary proposal,” Ingole said.

“Our job would be to ensure that the SGRC gives the report on a specific complaint on time and ensure there is no bias,” added Ingole.

Officials at the varsity also said they are in the process of requesting for a separate space for the SC/ST cell on campus.

Officials further stated that in the meantime, students can write to the cell’s committee on their complaints and support would be provided.

In addition to the liaison officer, the varsity also has an SC/ST faculty advisor who students can approach until the newly constituted cell starts to fully function.