Minister plans law to curb caste bias in education

The Indian government is considering a proposal to make caste discrimination in institutions of higher education a punishable offence, writes Ritika Chopra for India Today.

The Human Resource Development Ministry has been jolted into action by an increasing number of suicides by Dalit students over the past few years and an appeal by the forum of scheduled castes and tribes parliamentarians. Sources said Minister Kapil Sibal had decided to take the Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Technical, Medical Educational Institutions and Universities Bill, 2010, back to cabinet with an amendment that recognises discrimination of any kind (caste, religion or gender) as a malpractice and defines the penalty for it.

To ensure that institutions keep caste bias in check, the accreditation of a college or university, which will be made mandatory in future, will also depend on the "approach of the institution in matters of equity and inclusion".
Full report on the India Today site