SC-ST Cell

The SC/ST Cell of  Lady Shri Ram College for Women was set up to uphold the rights, dignity, and facilitate inclusion, welfare, and fair opportunities for the members belonging to the Scheduled Castes(SCs) and Scheduled Tribes(STs) in Higher Educational Institutions as mandated by the University Grant Commission(UGC), the Ministry of Education, Government of India (GOI). Being a constituent college of the University of Delhi, Lady Shri Ram College for Women is in spirit and action committed to the idea of inclusion, equality, social justice, affirmative policies, programmes, schemes, and facilities meant for members belonging to historically deprived, marginalized, and less privileged groups like SCs and STs.

The objective is to ensure for the members of  SCs AND STs who join a truly affirming space and full membership in the college community that involves, for the students, a non-obstructive and successful pursuit of higher education; for Faculty, a fulfilled experience of teaching,  research, and promotion, and successful delivery of service and their entitlements in return for the non-teaching staff.

The Cell aims to provide a platform, a living structure of opportunities where students can realize potential, sharpen their skills, share their concerns, issues & the Cell takes appropriate measures to address these concerns.

Keeping the interest of students at the centre, the Cell organizes Guest Lectures by distinguished speakers, interactive sessions with experts, a range of competitions, capacity building training and workshop and awareness sessions from time to time to create awareness among the SC/ST students regarding various Government & Non-Government Scholarship Schemes & Programs so that students can benefit by availing those facilities.

The SC/ST Cell functions through a team of 12 members: Faculty Convenor, Co-convenor, Faculty advisors, and four student coordinators who are duly selected every academic year through a rigorous process of selection that includes interviews to addresses academic and non-academic issues and complaints received from students, teaching and non-teaching staffs belonging to the SC and ST communities. For smooth functioning the Cell has constituted different teams i.e. Book & Documentary Team, Research Team, Ideation Team, Media & Publicity Team and Logistics Team. The Cell also coordinates the members through department representatives. For the Psychological and Emotional well-being of its student members the cell runs a Menor Mentee and Peer Support system.

The faculty and other Team members of the Cell always efforts to ensure a milieu where members from this marginalized and deprived communities can fully participate and live a dignified and accomplished life in college without any sort of caste-based discrimination.  Every year the cell organizes sensitization programmes in order to ensure a condition that fosters dignity, inclusivity and community. A place Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high.

The Broader  objectives and functions of SC/ST Cell have been as follows:

• Ensuring Equal opportunities, Protection of Right and Full Participation.
• To ensure Holistic welfare of SC/ST students; quality education, scholarships, cutting age life shaping skill Training  collaborating with other vital institutional arrangements of college to have a successful higher educational training, experience and output in terms of placements, internships and employment.
• To ensure and help the college in implementing the reservation policy with regard to the admission of students and the recruitment and promotions of teaching and non-teaching staff at various levels.
•  To Sensitize  the new members of SC and ST Community about caste related discrimination and violation of rights as students of marginalize community and sensitize the campus community on  importance of associational and community living.
• To Collect data regarding the implementation of the policies in respect of admissions, appointments to teaching and non-teaching positions in the University.
• To help the Students, Teaching and non-teaching staff belonging SC/ST community to integrate with the larger community of the college and to overcome any difficulties the students of the community may face throughout the 3-4 years of their study.
• In addition to the two main aims mentioned above, the main aim of the Cell is to monitor the guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission from time to time, based on the policies of the Government of India and the Government of NCT-Delhi related to upholding the interests of all stakeholders belonging to the community.
• SC/ST cell regularly shares the information with students about various types of available scholarships so that they can avail themselves of the scholarship they are eligible for.
• Grievance Redressal: The Cell addresses complaints and grievances of SC/ST individuals related to caste-based discrimination, academic issues, administrative problems, and social concerns.
• Awareness and Support:  The Cell organizes Orientation programs from time to time and provides information on various scholarships, Student and citizenship rights, and career, etc.
• Recognizing the importance of digital literacy and 21st-century life skills in today’s world and keeping in view the needs of the students, the Cell organizes CV writing, communication enhancement skills, Basic Research Methodology and Techniques, IT, and data analysis workshops from time to time.
• Through its various programs and activities, the Cell has been successfully facilitating a vibrant platform for critical discussions, education, and empowerment; promoting a more inclusive and equitable community, logical, creative, and innovative thinking. The Cell also organizes Talks and Seminars on Historical, socio-economic, general, and current issues to keep students engaged and informed.
• To achieve equity in opportunities, the Cell supports the students with Mentorship and Academic and Career Performance Enhancement Initiatives.
•  The Cell through its Journal Navchetna encourages the students to write thought-provoking articles on their life Journeys, caste, Tribal Problems, social justice, and other issues of India and geopolitics.