The Ambedkar Students Association (ASA) from the University of Hyderabad was home to Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula whose institutional murder caused an uproar across the country, four years ago. He had been fighting anti-student policies on campus while a member of the ASA and so, even after his death, the ASA has continued to stand up and condemn caste discrimination and atrocities. Which is why when a senior resident doctor from AIIMS, Delhi attempted suicide alleging caste-based harassment, the ASA is demanding that the Rohith Act be implemented without further delay.
The Rohith Act, a demand raised by students, professors and family members of the late student, would enable Dalit-Adivasi students to fight against institutional discrimination, "We also demand that a fast track enquiry be conducted in the AIIMS doctor case. Along with the culprit the administration should also be made accountable for their attitude which was instrumental in the suicide of Dalit-Bahujan students," the ASA stated in a release.
The Association pointed out that it has been less than a year since the institutional murder of Dr Payal Tadvi and already another similar incident had taken place. "AIIMS Delhi has been a prime place to raise anti-reservation protests, this has nurtured a huge increase in caste-based discrimination in AIIMS campuses for which the government had to form a committee led by Sukhdeo Thorat. The committee concluded with confirming such differential treatments in AIIMS campuses by suggesting certain recommendations," they explained. But claimed the accused for let free.
AIIMS has had a history of allegations of casteism. "This explains the rooted practice of caste atrocities that are indeed a reality in such institutions and the audacious nature of the institution to uphold them. Balmukund Bharati and Anila Kumar Meena has been murdered by the same institution, who too alleged caste-based discrimination," the statement read.
Speaking about the senior resident doctor who recently attempted suicide, the Association said, "She repeatedly filed many complaints about the caste-based and sexual harassment by a senior faculty member. But they were not attended to. These unattended grievances forced her to attempt suicide. This possess a severe question over the reluctance of these medical institutions to address caste-based harassment complaints by the students which has been a significant fact in all such institutional murders," the ASA pointed out.
