Marginal representation of SC-STs in IITs

If SCs/STs are abysmally under-represented as faculty members in central universities despite the stated policy of reservation in promotion, their presence in premier IITs is equally marginal.

    The fact that there is no reservation in promotion in IITs makes it even worse leaving little room for them to occupy senior positions. IITs have reservation only at the entry level of assistant professor.

    While many IITs replied to RTI activist Mahendra Pratap Singh, IIT-Delhi and Bombay are yet to give response. Another query to the Prime Minister’s Office about social profile of scientists in the laboratories of Central Scientific & Industrial Research has not evinced any reply. IIT-Kharagpur, among the oldest, has only three SC professors, two associate professors and two assistant professors. There is no ST faculty member at all three levels. There are two OBC professors and seven assistant professors but no associate professor. But from the general class there are 227 professors, 105 associate and 165 assistant professors.

    IIT- Madras, among the best in its ilk, has three each SC professors and associate professors and four assistant professors. Again, STs are unrepresented in two categories. A lone ST is assistant professor. Even OBCs are not there at the level of professor and associate professor, but there are seven assistant professors. Considering that Tamil Nadu has been the hot bed of social movement, underrepresentation of marginal castes and STs is intriguing.

    Among the best in the world as civil engineering institute, Roorkee has only one each SC professor and associate professor. There are six SC and one ST assistant professor. OBCs are better placed in Roorkee with 11 each professors, associate professors and seven assistant professors. Among general category, there are 120 professors, 57 associate professors and 133 assistant professors.

    With representation so skewed in well-established IITs, new ones can hardly be blamed for not getting enough eligible SC/ST teachers.

Source:The Times of India