Madras University students irked over missing SC, ST grievance

University of Madras Students Express Concerns Over Missing Minutes

Students from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities at the University of Madras have raised concerns regarding the lack of minutes from grievance meetings held to address their complaints. University officials have stated that minutes from last year’s meeting, which discussed allegations of caste-based discrimination in internal mark allocation, are missing.

Allegations of Unaddressed Demands

At a recent grievance meeting, chaired by the University Registrar, students pointed out that several demands previously raised in meetings remained unfulfilled. These demands included the relocation of the university’s SC, ST cell to a more accessible location within the main building and concerns about alleged caste bias in the awarding of internal marks by some faculty members.

Key Demands Raised in Previous Meeting

According to students, the demands submitted at a meeting held at the end of last year included the relocation of the SC, ST cell to improve its visibility and address concerns about faculty bias in internal mark allocation.

Student Perspective

Students stated that while the current meeting was conducted, they emphasized the need for concrete action on previously raised demands rather than repeated discussions without resolution. They believe grievance meetings should be effective platforms for voicing concerns and resolving issues.

University Response

University officials informed students that the minutes from the previous meeting were lost and could not be located. They acknowledged the students’ concerns and emphasized the importance of conducting meetings according to established norms and taking timely action on raised issues.

Moving Forward

Students believe that addressing these grievances and preventing future controversies would require consistent action on previously raised demands. They advocate for grievance meetings to be meaningful platforms for SC and ST students to voice their concerns and seek resolutions.

Source: DT Next. Featured image credit: DT Next.