Saksham Measures for Ensuring the Safety of Women and Programmes for Gender Sensitization on Campuses

Abstract

From Preface: Education plays a crucial role in promoting the egalitarian commitments of Equality and Justice enshrined in the Constitution of India. The University Grants Commission (UGC) fully recognizes how integral such education, and especially access to higher learning, is for all to reach their fullest potential, and more especially for the disadvantaged and the marginalized groups, including women. Promoting equity through higher education has always been at the very heart of the agenda of the UGC and reflects its commitment to nurture and preserve democracy within spaces of learning. It promoted this commitment through introduction of schemes for the marginalized sections of the society, particularly the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Minorities, Differently-abled Persons, and especially, participation of women, cutting across regional and afore-mentioned social groups, to increase their access to, and retention and success in higher education. The outcome of these efforts touched different levels of satisfaction. But some special efforts were still needed to create a more conducive environment for girls and women for their participation and success in higher education.