EQUAL OPPORTUNITY CELL

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has drafted the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2025. These regulations are designed to foster equity, inclusion, and non-discrimination within Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) across India, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. They aim to ensure a safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environment for all students, faculty members, and staff by preventing any form of discrimination based on religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth within Higher Education Institutions.

Objective

To eradicate discrimination on the basis of religion, race, sex, place of birth, or caste, particularly against the members of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, socially and educationally backward classes, economically weaker sections, or any of them, and to promote full equity and inclusion amongst the stakeholders in higher education institutions.

The procedure in case of an incident of discrimination:

  • An aggrieved person may report any incident of discrimination on an online portal.
  • The incident of discrimination can also be reported by filling a form available on the college website.
  • The aggrieved person shall also have the option of reporting the incident to the Equity Committee.
  • The Equity Committee, upon receipt of such information, shall meet within 24 hours to take appropriate action.
  • The Equity Committee shall thereafter submit its report to the Head of the Institution within 15 working days. A copy of the Equity committee’s report shall also be sent to the aggrieved person.
  • Upon receipt of the report from the Equity Committee, the Head of the Institution shall take further action as per the rules of the HEI. However, if a case under the penal laws is made out, police authorities will be intimated.
  • In the event any complaint is made against the Head of the Institution, the meeting of the Equity Committee shall be chaired by the Coordinator of the EOC, and the report of the Equity Committee shall be forwarded to the next higher authority of the Head of the Institution.

Appeal

(1) A person aggrieved by the report of the Equity Committee may prefer an appeal before the Ombudsperson within 30 days from the date of receipt of such report. The ombudsperson may appoint an amicus curie to facilitate the hearing of an appeal.

(2) The Ombudsperson shall make all efforts to dispose of the appeal within a period of 30 days as per the University Grants Commission (Redressal of Grievances of Students) Regulations, 2023, as amended from time to time.

The Ombudsperson for the Equal Opportunity Cell of St. Bede’s College is Dr. Deepali Dhaul, Chairperson Department of English, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla: Director, Centre of Canadian Studies HPU and Chief Advisor, Equal Opportunity Cell, HPU.

Members of Equal Opportunity Cell

Sl. No Name Designation Phone No.
1. Dr. Gitanjali Mahendra Chairperson 9816022297
2. Ms. Neha Walia Member 9418903075
3. Dr. Pankaj Ashish Liaison Officer 9817651965
4. Dr. Sapna Sharma Chairperson ICC 9418495919
5. Dr. Shweta Thakur  Coordinator IQAC 9882886289
6. Dr. Jyotika Barari Women Cell Representative 8091765890
7. Mr. Bhupinder Sharma Administrative Officer 9816661775
8. Ms. Dianoor Aulakh Student Representative 8188000033