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In search of equal opportunities
RAVIPRASAD KAMILA
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Crucial role for Mangalore varsity centre, with UGC funding
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A Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, fully sponsored by the University Grants Commission (UGC), has been opened at Mangalagangotri, Mangalore University. The UGC will give Rs. 40 lakh per annum for five years.
The centre will broadly study economic, educational, political and cultural aspects related to deprived sections of the society and suggest measures to include them in the mainstream. In addition, it will organise seminars and publish articles related to the theme and organise short-term courses for targeted groups.
According to Vishwanatha, director of the centre, the UGC has sanctioned this centre to 12 universities, including deemed, central and conventional, in the country. Mangalore University is the only one among conventional universities in Karnataka. The UGC gave the nod as it was impressed by the performance of the Centre for Ambedkar Studies of Mangalore University.
The UGC said that Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and religious minorities experience systematic exclusion in the matter of taking advantage of development. The nature, extent and forms of exclusion should be studied for theoretical and policy purposes. This calls for a multi-disciplinary approach. It said that institutions of higher learning need to address this issue. “The primary space where exclusion can be studied, understood and transcended is our universities, which can and must act as a beacon for society,” the UGC said in its guidelines for the establishment of the centre.
Short-term courses
Prof. Vishwanatha said that the centre will organise short-term courses for political leaders, government officials, trade union leaders and mediapersons on the themes related to social exclusion and inclusion. It will set up a data base related to the theme.
K.M. Kaveriappa, Vice-Chancellor of the university, while inaugurating the centre recently said that the university will encourage students of humanities registering to pursue M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees in the university to do research on aspects related to deprived sections of the society.
P. Selvidas, former Vice-Chancellor of University of Mysore and former member of Rajya Sabha, who inaugurated the centre said that Dalits are the most suppressed and oppressed sections of society. Even in the modern era many of them have been excluded in social, cultural, educational and economic sectors. They must fight for their fundamental and civil rights. She also said that women have been systematically suppressed. “Even now educated persons continue to suppress women,” she added.
B. Hanumaiah, Vice-Chancellor, Babasaheb Ambedkar Central University, Lucknow, said that it is not sensible to talk on nuclear deals and improving higher education in the country when “we are not treating each other equally.”
According to Prof. Vishwanatha, who is also director of the Centre for Ambedkar Studies, the new centre has 15 postings, including the director. All but three of them have been filled up.
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Education Plus
Karnataka
Chennai
Coimbatore
Hyderabad
Madurai
Tiruchirapalli
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
|
