Assam: National Commission for Scheduled Tribes highlights discrimination against ST woman

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has raised concern over the alleged discrimination and unjust treatment to Dr. Chaitali Brahma, Registrar at Central Institute of Technology (CIT)- Kokrajhar and an appointee to the post of Registrar at IIT- Guwahati. Despite receiving an appointment offer from IIT- Guwahati on February 1, 2024, and submitting a request for release effective on April 1, 2024, Dr. Brahma has not been relieved of her duties by the CIT- Kokrajhar, hindering her transition to the new role.

At the time of application, the CIT- Kokrajhar had issued a vigilance clearance for Dr. Brahma. However, the institution later cited a decision made during the Board of Governors (BoG) meeting on April 22, 2024, which stated she could not be relieved until exonerated from potential charges. The department of Higher Education corroborated this stance in a communication dated September 27, 2024. The NCST took serious note of the delay, terming it discriminatory against a Scheduled Tribe woman. After the department of Higher Education failed to respond to a notice issued on August 19, 2024, the NCST convened a meeting on October 3, 2024, with representatives from the department, CIT- Kokrajhar, IIT- Guwahati, and Dr. Brahma.

During the meeting, Dr. Brahma reiterated her request for a relieving order and sought a postponement of the IIT- Guwahati interview scheduled for October 4, 2024. However, CIT- Kokrajhar officials could not provide a satisfactory explanation for the delay. The department of Higher Education disclosed that the BoG had recommended filing a chargesheet against Dr. Brahma in July 2024, further complicating the matter. The NCST is now reviewing the issue to ensure justice and safeguard the rights of Scheduled Tribe women in similar professional scenarios.

CIT was established on December 19, 2006 in Kokrajhar. The genesis of this institute was the Memorandum of Settlement of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) signed between the Assam Government, the union Government and the Bodo Liberation Tigers on February 10, 2003, in New Delhi.

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