The student group emphasized seven key issues that must be addressed to ensure “the equitable inclusion and development of OBC faculty, students, and scholars in higher education”.
New Delhi: The All India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA) has written a fresh letter to the University Grants Commission (UGC) calling for immediate action on concerns related to OBC faculty positions, fellowships, and student facilities. The student group emphasized seven key issues that must be addressed to ensure “the equitable inclusion and development of OBC faculty, students, and scholars in higher education”.
The seven important issues raised by AIOBCSA are as follows: Allocation of OBC Faculty Positions, Directive Against Vacant Reserved Positions, Increase in National Fellowship for OBCs (NFOBC) Slots, Establishment of Phule Centers, Hostel Facilities for OBC Students in Central Universities, Special Recruitment Drive for OBC Faculty Positions, and Establishment of a Fee Regulation Committee. Sharing a post on X(previously Twitter), the Student Association wrote, “We have written to @ugc_india Secretary to address following OBC issues 1. Allocation of OBC Faculty Positions…”
“The OBC faculty positions should be allocated in full proportion to the total faculty positions available in each university or college. Additionally, we request the UGC to conduct a nationwide data collection initiative to gather information on the social profiles of faculty positions across various universities and colleges. This data will help identify the shortfall in OBC representation relative to the total allocation of faculty positions in each institution. Addressing these gaps is essential for upholding social justice and ensuring fair representation in academia,” All India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA) in a letter said.
Urging the Commission to increase the National Fellowship for OBCs (NFOBC) Slots, the student association said, “The current allocation of 1,000 slots under the National Fellowship for OBCs (NFOBC) is insufficient to meet the increasing admission of OBC research scholars. We urge the UGC to increase these slots to 5,000 to accommodate more deserving OBC scholars, thereby promoting higher education and research among this underrepresented group.”
We have written to @ugc_india Secretary to address following OBC issues
1. Allocation of OBC Faculty Positions:
The OBC faculty positions should be allocated in full proportion to the total faculty positions available in each university or college. Additionally, we request… pic.twitter.com/8FUgioFIV5— All India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA) (@aiobcsa) August 9, 2024
The student body has urged the Commission to initiate a special recruitment drive for OBC faculty positions across all universities and institutions within a specified timeframe. “We strongly recommend conducting a special recruitment drive for OBC faculty positions across all universities and institutions in a time-bound manner. This focused effort is necessary to address the existing gaps in OBC representation and to ensure that these positions are filled with qualified candidates without undue delay,” the letter further wrote.
AIOBCSA said, “We urge the UGC to establish a Fee Regulation Committee at the national level to monitor and regulate fee structure revisions across universities and colleges. While we respect the autonomy of institutions, that should be subject to higher level scrutiny when those autonomous decisions squeeze the opportunities of students from Socially, Educationally, and Economically Backward Classes. This committee would ensure that fee revisions are fair and do not disproportionately burden disadvantaged groups.”