No law exists for reservation in private colleges, committee finds

Who it concerns: The report concerns the Ministry of Education (specifically the Department of Higher Education), private higher educational institutions (HEIs), and students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities.

What the committee found

• The Committee noted that there is currently no law regarding the implementation of reservation policies in private HEIs and recommended implementing provisions under Article 15(5) through a central law.
• The Committee recommended that the government provide reimbursement to private HEIs for students from disadvantaged groups, similar to provisions under the Right to Education Act of 2009.
• To increase seats without compromising quality or reducing general category seats, the Committee recommended providing adequate funds to private HEIs, supplementing resources through public-private partnerships, and offering low-interest loans.
• The Committee recommended developing model programs in private HEIs, including bridge courses and free coaching for entrance exams, and suggested the Department of Higher Education offer scholarships.
• The Committee recommended strict enforcement of anti-discrimination policies and the constitution of grievance redressal mechanisms in private HEIs to address reported caste-based discrimination.
• The Committee recommended that the Department collaborate with NGOs and community leaders to spread awareness about reservation benefits, noting that many students are unaware of these opportunities.
• The Committee recommended that private HEIs must collect data on the caste category of all applicants and admitted students, while allowing individuals to declare they do not have a caste identity.

Also in the document

• The Committee observed that the number of students from OBC, SC, and ST communities in private higher educational institutions is considerably low.
• The Committee noted that the dropout rate of students from reserved categories is higher in private HEIs.
• The Committee highlighted a lack of a reliable and updated database on the composition of the student population in private and public HEIs.
• The Committee noted that the declaration of caste during the admission process is currently optional.