Telangana to Enact 'Rohith Vemula Act' to Protect Dalit, ST Students from Campus Discrimination

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Telangana's Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has announced plans to introduce a landmark legislation to prevent caste-based discrimination against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in educational institutions across the state. The proposed 'Rohith Vemula Act', named after a Dalit student who took his own life in 2016 after facing alleged caste-based persecution at the University of Hyderabad, aims to safeguard the rights of SC and ST students by explicitly defining discrimination as any intentional or unintentional action that has an adverse effect on an individual or group. This civil legislation will provide a non-criminalizing avenue to settle conflicts and account for evolving forms of discrimination, including indirect, institutional, and microaggressions. The announcement comes after a meeting between Vikramarka and members of the Justice for Rohith Vemula Campaign Committee from Karnataka, who submitted a draft bill prepared by the Karnataka government. The Karnataka delegation, led by senior Ambedkarite Hulikunte Murthy, emphasized the need for an anti-discrimination law to address the ongoing struggles faced by Dalit students on campuses. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has been a vocal advocate for the Rohith Vemula Act, expressed his support for the proposed legislation, stating that it is a necessity to prevent caste-based discrimination in educational institutions. Scores of students from the Ambedkar Students' Association (ASA) and other student groups held a commemorative meeting at the University of Hyderabad, demanding justice for Rohith Vemula and calling for an end to caste-based persecution on campuses. The Telangana government is set to study the draft bill and enact a similar legislation at the earliest, following discussions with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. The proposed law is expected to bring relief to 50 students and two teachers who were implicated in non-bailable cases following Vemula's death. The introduction of the Rohith Vemula Act is seen as a significant step towards promoting equality and justice for Dalit students in Telangana's educational institutions.