Only 4% of professors in 45 central universities are OBCs

TNN | Aug 1, 2023, 08.40 AM IST

CHENNAI: Only 4% of professors and 6% of associate professors working in 45 central universities belong to OBCs, shows the data submitted by Union minister of state for education Subhas Sarkar in the Lok Sabha.Replying to a question posed by Sanjeev Kumar Singari from Andhra Pradesh on the representation of reserved categories in central universities, Subhas Sarkar said only five vice-chancellors of 45 central universities are OBCs.

The representation of OBCs in the professor and associate professor categories is lower than of the SCs. Meanwhile, 85% of professors and 82% of associate professors are from the general category.

“There must be a separate drive at the national level to fill OBC vacancies. Such a drive will attract qualified faculty members from OBCs from all over the country,” said S P Thyagarajan, former vice-chancellor of Madras University. He also proposed to create a database of qualified professors for the appointment of vice-chancellors.
At the entry level of assistant professors, the representation of OBCs is slightly better as 18% are from OBCs and 59% are from the general category.

Still, 27% reservation for OBCs is yet to be fulfilled. Even among the non-teaching staff, only 12% are from OBCs, whereas 70% of the employees are from the general category.

“Eligible OBC candidates are not able to apply to central universities due to the rule of creamy layer,” said G Karunanidhi, general secretary of All India Federation of Other Backward Classes Employees Welfare Associations.

“The government should increase the income ceiling from 8 lakh a year to 15 lakh. The low-income ceiling is preventing the sons and daughters of government employees from applying for such posts. The creamy layer concept itself should be removed,” he said.