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Don’t seek caste identity of students except in certain cases: Assam minister

The minister’s direction came after it came to light that at least three prominent colleges in Guwahati sought caste details from prospective students in admission forms

Updated on: Aug 20, 2021, 12:06:37 IST
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Assam education minister Ranoj Pegu on Thursday directed colleges against seeking caste details of prospective students other than those belonging to Other Backward Class, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes, which have quotas in educational institutions and jobs, during the admission process.

Representational image.
Representational image.

“Apart from mentioning whether on belongs to scheduled caste, scheduled tribe or other backward castes, details on caste identity are not required during admissions to schools and colleges,” Pegu tweeted.

“There has been no such direction from the government (for seeking details of caste identity). If any educational institution has sought such details, then I request them to waive off such requirements.”

The minister’s direction came after it came to light that at least three prominent colleges in Guwahati sought caste details from prospective students in admission forms.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar

A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.

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