Ten years after it was started to promote in-depth studies of inter-related issues concerning Dalits, minorities, and other marginalised and socially excluded sections of the population, the Jamia Millia Islamia University is likely to shut Dr. K.R. Narayanan Centre for Dalit and Minorities Studies.
The university may also wind up the Centre for Jawaharlal Nehru Studies, which was started in the year 2004, with the objective of conducting research and teaching on development issues.
Sources said the academic council of the Jamia Millia Islamia University is likely to discuss the “reorganisation of research centres and creation of new facilities” at a meeting on Friday and might recommend closing down the two centres which were opened with specific purpose during the UPA– I regime. “It is just a recommendation [reorganisation of research centres] and nothing is final. The proposal of re-organisation of research centres and creation of new facilities will be debated in Friday’s meeting of the academic council,” said a functionary of the university requesting anonymity.
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According to a university official, the constitution of the university will have to be amended if the proposal is cleared by the academic council and the amendments will first have to be sent to the President for his approval before being placed in both the Houses. “The amendment will be deemed approved if there is no objection by the members of both the Houses. The entire process will not take less than 8-9 months if at all happens,” the official added.
Dr. K.R. Narayanan Centre for Dalits and Minorities offers Masters’ degree in Social Exclusion and Inclusion Policy and doctorate. In its decade-long existence, the centre’ primary objectives were to generate awareness of the socio-economic, political, and cultural issues pertaining to Dalits, minorities, and marginalised and socially excluded sections of the population.