Institutional Casteism

An examination of the 13-point and 200-point roster systems for reservation of faculty positions in universities and colleges for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes shows the anamolies involved. It also shows the reasons for the meagre representation of reserved category candidates compared to their proportion in the population and the earmarked proportions
of reservation.

Looking at the class and caste differences in access to agricultural credit in India, it is seen that large proportions of farmers are still outside the fold of formal credit. Farmers from smaller farm-size class and socially marginalised castes face difficulty in accessing credit due to lower asset valuations, compounded by social discrimination. There is a need for asset creation and reorientation of the present agricultural credit policy for greater inclusiveness.

A study of 360 safai karamcharis employed with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai suggests that policies aimed at uplifting conservancy work may actually be institutionalising caste-based occupations. This article describes the situation that keeps generations of safai karamcharis in this occupation, and recommends practical solutions to break the vicious cycle.

A study of sewage workers and toilet cleaners employed with the Pune Municipal Corporation shows how solid waste management is narrowly focused on dry latrine cleaning. One needs to urgently reform solid waste management system and improve the working conditions of people who are employed in cleaning our cities.

Thanks to your stunning performance, we, faculty members of the University of Hyderabad, are compelled to do what we should have done in the past month or so, but could not bring ourselves to—write about Rohith Vemula, write about our other students, write about the state of academics, write abou