Soon, knowledge of gender sensitive issues may be mandatory for a job in a university.
A 10-member Task Force set up by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to recommend measures to ensure the safety of women on campuses in the country will explore varied aspects including evolving new additional eligibility criteria for teaching and non-teaching job aspirants.
The Task Force headed by UGC Member Meenakshi Gopinath will among other things “suggest how awareness of gender sensitive issues be made an essential eligibility criteria in the future recruitment of university staff both teaching as well as non-teaching.”
The Task Force will additional suggest how gender education and sensitisation can be made an integral part of the university curriculum in all subject domains.
In an official order issued recently, UGC deputy director R C Kandera said the Task Force will also analyse and assess the extent to which the existing arrangements for safety of women, both students and staff, and youth in general, are adequate on the campuses.
The experts will also identify shortcomings in the existing system and suggest measures to put in place strong safeguards. “They will also evaluate grievance redressal mechanism for gender specific concerns and suggest measures to strengthen them. Besides, they would suggest academic measures and action programmes to bring about changes in practices and attitudes within society for recognising the fundamental right,” an official said.