SFI Uttar Pradesh Conference Demands Central Legislation to Combat Caste Discrimination in Educational Institutions
The 17th Uttar Pradesh State Conference of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) has adopted a comprehensive resolution calling for urgent reforms to address systemic inequalities in the education sector. The two-day gathering, held at Nehru Yuva Kendra in Husainabad, Lucknow, brought together 89 student representatives from across the state to deliberate on what they described as a deepening crisis of equity, access, and democratic participation in educational institutions.
Key Demands for Educational Equity and Justice
The resolution put forward several critical demands aimed at transforming the educational landscape:
- Central Legislation Against Caste Discrimination: The conference demanded a strong central law specifically designed to prevent caste-based discrimination and social exclusion within educational institutions across India.
- Renaming UGC Equity Regulations: Delegates called for the renaming of the UGC Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, after Rohit Vemula, the Dalit research scholar whose institutional death at Hyderabad Central University in 2016 sparked nationwide protests and highlighted systemic discrimination in academia.
- Restoration of Democratic Processes: The resolution emphasized the need to restore student union elections, which have been suspended or restricted in many institutions, arguing that student representation is essential for campus democracy.
- Financial Accessibility Measures: The conference demanded regulation of fees in private and self-financing educational institutions to ensure affordability, along with timely disbursal of fellowships and scholarships to support economically disadvantaged students.
- Academic Integrity Protections: Strict action against examination paper leaks was demanded to preserve the credibility of academic assessments and protect student interests.
- Gender Justice Mechanisms: Strengthening of gender-just grievance redressal mechanisms on campuses to address harassment and discrimination faced by women and gender minorities.
Structural Nature of Caste Discrimination in Education
Adarsh M Saji, the All India President of SFI, addressed the conference, highlighting the entrenched nature of caste discrimination in higher education. "Caste discrimination in higher education is structural and deeply entrenched," Saji stated. "Without a strong central act, autonomous redressal bodies, and representation of marginalized communities, equity regulations will remain symbolic. Naming the UGC Equity Regulations after Rohit Vemula is about remembering the struggles that forced these changes and holding institutions accountable."
The resolution specifically noted that the existing UGC equity guidelines were the direct outcome of sustained student movements, Dalit-Adivasi struggles, and significant public pressure following Rohit Vemula's tragic death. By proposing to rename these regulations in his memory, SFI aims to ensure that the institutional memory of this struggle remains central to future equity initiatives.
Broader Implications for Educational Reform
The conference's demands reflect growing concerns about multiple dimensions of inequality in Indian education:
- Social Justice: The call for anti-caste legislation represents a push for concrete legal frameworks rather than symbolic policy measures.
- Financial Equity: Fee regulation and scholarship disbursement demands address the economic barriers that prevent many students from accessing quality education.
- Academic Governance: The restoration of student union elections and stronger grievance mechanisms seek to democratize campus governance structures.
- Historical Accountability: The proposal to rename UGC regulations after Rohit Vemula connects current policy discussions to historical struggles for educational justice.
The SFI conference in Uttar Pradesh has positioned itself at the forefront of student-led demands for comprehensive educational reform, emphasizing that true equity requires addressing caste discrimination, financial barriers, democratic deficits, and gender injustice simultaneously. The resolution represents one of the most detailed student-led platforms for educational justice to emerge from Uttar Pradesh in recent years, with potential implications for national policy discussions about caste, equity, and higher education reform.
