All State-run universities in Karnataka will have to provide 1% reservation for girl children of women who were victims of sexual assault or were Devadasis.
The Higher Education Department issued an order last week, which will have to be enforced by universities in the 2019-2020 academic year in all undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
The government’s decision is the result of a letter from the trustee of Odanadi Seva Samsthe, Mysuru, an NGO working for the rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration and empowerment of trafficked and sexually exploited women and children.
The NGO sought academic reservation on the lines of that in the University of Mysore (UoM) for the academic development of victims of dowry harassment, sexually exploitation, trafficking and acid attack, in all State universities.
Since the 2011-12 academic year, students coming from Odanadi Seva Samsthe are being admitted in the UOM. The university admits two candidates for undergraduate programmes and one candidate for postgraduate programmes. These students are entitled to a 50% discount on their fees.
Universities, who recently received the order, are chalking out modalities on how to implement the reservation.
“We will have to clarify with the government on the criteria to avail this reservation. We will also write to UoM and ask them to share how they implemented this reservation,” said a Vice Chancellor of a State-run university.
K.S. Vimala, State Vice-President, Janawadi Mahila Sangathane, termed it a good move and the “first of its kind.”
“If this has to be implemented in letter and spirit, then universities will have to ensure that rules and regulations laid down by universities for availing this benefit are simple. Universities should try and obtain documents themselves from the respective authorities instead of pressuring victims to do the same,” she said.
