The major objective of setting up a Centre of Women Studies in higher educational institutes is to establish an inclusive society that possesses equal place for male and female members.
We educate women because it is smart. We educate women because it changes the world. – Drew Fuast
Did you know that over the past several decades, one of the most significant transformations in education in India is the massive increase in women’s access to colleges and universities? The malice of gender discrimination of Higher Education in India has lowered comparatively because of the formulation and implementation of stringent and powerful laws and policies.
Undoubtedly, times have changed and the encouragement by government and society has given many Indian women with the feasibility of economic independence, respectable employment and they have become an important earning member of their families. Today, an educated woman holds the skills, the self-confidence and the power to be a better citizen. They are no less than men in any aspect and fields and are manifesting themselves amongst different opportunities provided through higher education.
Recently, special guidelines are set up by The University Grants Commission (UGC) for the Centre of Women Studies at Universities and Colleges. The aim of this profound step is to focus on most marginalized and disadvantaged women in the society. These include women from Schedule Caste and Tribes, women living in unsafe environments, women with disabilities, among others. Scheduled Casts students constitute 13.9% and Scheduled Tribes students 4.9% of the total enrolment. 33.75% of students belong to Other Backward Classes. 4.7% of students belong to the Muslim Minority and 1.97% from other Minority Community. Although, the existence of such centers is no new thing in India. The graph of these centers has only increased from the past few years.
READ MORE – UGC Issues Guidelines For Setting Up Of Center For Women Studies
The major objective of setting up a Centre of Women Studies in higher educational institutes is to establish an inclusive society that possesses equal place for male and female members.
According to some statistics released in 2011, the literacy rate of females in India is 65.46 percent, which is significantly lower than the world’s average of 79.7 percent. The female literacy rate in China is 82.7 percent. According to a report by the AISHE (All India Survey on Higher Education) (2015-2016), there are 14 Universities exclusively for women with 4 in Rajasthan, 2 in Tamil Nadu, 1 each in Delhi, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, Uttrakhand Maharashtra, and West Bengal. There are 268 Affiliating Universities as well. According to these guidelines, the Centre for Women Studies at any institute will devote special attention and focus on the marginalized and deprived women in the society.
Objectives of UGC for setting up the Center for Women Studies
- Building knowledge and developing skills from both national as well as international perspectives
- In order to cater to the diverse needs of Indian women, the Centre will also work extensively to develop course curriculum accordingly.
- Solving mainstream gender issues in research and teaching
- Constructing an inductive environment enabling women to take up leadership positions in a diversified array of sectors.
- Working towards Master’s Programme in women’s higher education
- Conducting evidence-based research on the economic development of women
- Measures for economic inclusion of women in development sectors to be proposed and promoted
- Concurrence in the prescribed format to comply with the new guidelines to be given by the existing centers
According to an official at UGC, “A women study center must seek a comprehensive, critical and balanced understanding of India’s socio-economic realities and governance. Its chief components comprise of women’s contribution to society and social processes and their perception of their own lives, the broader social reality and their struggles, and aspirations.”
Previous Guidelines vs New Guidelines
The guidelines speak that these centers will be monitored and evaluated periodically by the UGC. The head of the center will present a report to its advisory committee on how the center is working and then submit it to the UGC with minutes or comments of the members every year. The report will include both quantitative as well as qualitative information and the achievements and actions which were taken.
The centers will be the evaluated on the basis of teaching, research, seminars, extension activities, workshops, special lectures, field action projects and action research, documentation and archive on women, a partnership with other UGC centers and non-UGC centers, government schemes and NGOs.
However, these guidelines hold some negative as well. According to the previous guidelines, teaching and training in women’s studies centers, including BA, MA, MPhil and PhD qualifications were addressed in detail. But, in the new guidelines there is almost nothing mentioned about the teaching and training (or about the four degrees) in the 23 paged slim document.
Previously, many women’s studies centers were dependent on the UGC for funding or universities and colleges used to pay themselves for sustaining these centers. But now, if this funding is pulled back by the UGC, it could probably lead to the end for many of these centers, their faculty, and students.
Earlier, the funding was allocated between Rs 47.5 lakh to Rs 75 lakh per annum to centers, depending on how advanced they were. But according to the new guidelines the funding may be allocated between Rs 12.5 lakh to Rs 40 lakh depending on the type of center.
Consequences of Fund Cutting
- All this might lead to the non-payment of the staff already working in several universities and colleges. A threat of losing jobs will be there.
- The competing ability of scholars who are currently pursuing women’s studies will decline. As the teaching and research positions were previously funded by the UGC will not be having any penny to pay them.
- Disruption of teaching and research functions across the centers in universities might be caused. This will affect students doing research, Ph.D.’s and other such courses as they will be left alone without any guide.
These centers undoubtedly a great step for women education but with new changed guidelines we need to see how it will be affecting existing structure? Also how much opposition will be there in from various Institutes for the same?
