IIM Bengaluru faces protest against alleged ‘caste discrimination’

PTI, Nov 21, 2024, 10:19 AM IST

Bengaluru: A group of people staged a protest on Wednesday against alleged “caste discrimination” at the Indian Institute of Management-Bengaluru (IIM-B), demanding the removal of its director.

However, IIM Bangalore denied the allegations made by the protesters.

The protest, organised at Freedom Park, was called by the All India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA), Dr BR Ambedkar Association of Engineers, and the OBC Federation of India.

The protesters demanded the implementation of reservations, alleging that IIM-B was not following the reservation policy for SC, ST, and OBC communities.

Citing an RTI filed by the AIOBCSA, the protesters urged full compliance with constitutional mandates on reservations for SC, ST, and OBC students, faculty, and staff at IIM-B.

They also called for the establishment of SC, ST, and OBC cells and pressed for the removal of IIM-B’s director for “allegedly violating the reservation policy” and “harassing” faculty members raising diversity and inclusion concerns.

In a statement, IIMB said the institute has long prioritised nurturing an inclusive work environment, promoting growth and development for all stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, including SC, ST, and OBC communities.

It added that the institute has established a Diversity and Inclusion Cell and a Diversity and Inclusion Grievance Redressal Committee (DIGRC) to address grievances and ensure a discrimination-free environment.

IIM-B emphasised that it has strong anti-discrimination policies and procedures in place to prevent caste-based discrimination or harassment. The institute is also in the process of implementing reservations for faculty positions under the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Act 2019.

The statement further noted that the institute has a rolling advertisement for faculty recruitment on its website, explicitly indicating the reservation policy under the Act.

Additionally, IIMB launched Special Recruitment Efforts for candidates from reserved categories in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Over 10 new faculty members from SC, ST, and OBC categories have joined the institute since 2019.

IIM-B clarified that there are “no constraints on employees raising issues about the functioning of the institute, provided they follow institutional service rules. The institute encourages constructive feedback to enhance inclusivity.”