As per the directive of the University Grants Commission (UGC) dated 8th January, 2013 the institutions of higher learning must ensure safety of women in their campuses. The order sent to universities says: ‘Education plays a crucial role in promoting the egalitarian commitments of Equality and Justice enshrined in our Constitution. It is integral to processes that engender and expand horizons of opportunity for all disadvantaged and marginalised groups including women. Promoting equity through higher education is at the very heart of the agenda of the UGC and reflects its commitment to nurture and preserve democratic praxis and values in places of higher learning. Gender equality, consequently, is integral to this imperative.’
UGC strives to ensure zero tolerance of harassment, of any kind, of girls and women on campus. With the help of the leaders of all educational institutions, UGC would make concerted efforts to help institutions to put in place a responsive mechanism focusing not only on careful supervision but also on institutional interventions, counselling and quick redressal. Accordingly, it is felt appropriate to constitute a Task Force to review present arrangements, to identify loopholes or inadequacies in these, and to formulate remedial measures to address the concerns of the girls and women, and of the youth who study and live in the diversity of the campuses in the country.
Following the guidelines of UGC, for providing increased security and protection to the women within the university campus and the hostels, to ensure safe working and learning environment for the women employees as well as students and to enable them to practice their professional and academic activities in the least possible manner, the Central University of South Bihar has constituted a Task Force comprising of the following members :