SURENDRANATH LAW COLLEGE

         EQUAL  OPPORTUNITY  CELL

India is a land of diverse culture and heritage. For many centuries diverse cultures, religions and castes have co-existed together in the country. However, there has been a constant intolerance emanating from this diversity and we have failed to achieve complete harmony in all aspects of our lives. The prevalence of social inequality has created barriers and has denied access to materials, cultural and educational resources to the disadvantaged groups of the society. These groups have been segregated on the basis of language, ethnicity, class, caste, religion etc. This has resulted in a highly entrenched system of social stratification wherein hegemonic domination of the privileged groups has been detrimental to the development and progress of the exploited groups. This has restricted the opportunities to flourish among certain sections of the society and they have been deprived of their rights for years.
The nation took a conscious decision to undo the social wrongs after the country attained its Independence. For eradication of social disparities, various provisions were made in the Indian Constitution. Our Constitution enshrined democratization as one of the main objectives of education and anticipated the democratic expansion of education to serve social and economic upward mobility. The convergence of diversity and inequality poses serious problems in the way of transforming the professed principles into practice. Creating a condition of equal access in the midst of diversity and inequality necessitates a whole range of inclusive policies and corresponding institutional mechanisms for their effective implementation. As a measure to promote inclusion and diversity at the institutional level, a number of affirmative action programmes and schemes have been initiated by the Government of India and its agencies. The establishment of Special Cells/Equal Opportunity Cells in different educational institutions is an important intervention in this regard. These cells have been created with two interwined objectives – i) to ensure indiscrimination at the institutional level; and ii) to promote diversity and inclusive practices on the campuses of the institutions. The Special Cells/ Equal Opportunity Cells are mandated to oversee and ensure implementation of the policies, schemes and programmes for the inclusion of disadvantaged groups within the framework of policies and guidelines of the Government of India/UGC or other governmental agencies.

Introduction

Surendranath Law College is committed to ensure social and economic equality, while ensuring the standard of quality and relevance of education by implementing the policies of UGC and the Government of India. The college endeavours to harvest the rich human resources and make the campus more inclusive. The Equal Opportunity Cell primarily orients its activities around training and development programs for the students which provide them with supplementary academic support in the form of remedial coaching. Furthermore, the Cell conducts sensitization and awareness programmes on a wide array of subjects like Gender Issues, Human Rights, Inclusion of Marginalized Groups and International Peace and Conflict.

Aims  and  Objectives

The  Equal  Opportunity  Cell  of  Surendranath  Law  College  ensures  the  effective  implementation  of  policies  and  programmes  for  the  socially  and  economically  backward  groups. The  Cell  offers  guidance  and  counselling  with  respect  to  academic, financial, social  and  other  matters. Our  aim  is  to  extend  maximum  support  to  the  backward  communities  and  create  the  opportunity  for  their  maximum  participation  in   various  walks  of  life.

Functions

1.To ensure equity and equal opportunity to the community at large in the college and bring about social inclusion.
2.To enhance the diversity among the students, teaching and non-teaching staff population and at the same time eliminate the perception of discrimination.
3.To help create a socially conducive atmosphere for the growth of healthy inter - personal relations among students from marginalized sections and from various social backgrounds.
4.To help develop cordial inter - personal relationships between teachers and the students with special needs and those from marginalized sections for academic interaction and extra - curricular activities.
5.To work out suitable programs/schemes, including Remedial Courses, for improving performance of students with special needs and those from marginalized sections.
6.To look into the grievances of the backward sections of the society and suggest amicable solution to their problems.
7.To provide information and act as a counselling - cum - guidance centre for students belonging to the marginalized sections, especially with regard to academic, financial and other matters.
8.To establish co-ordination with UGC, government and other funding agencies(including Public Sector Undertakings/Public sector Banks) with a view to mobilizing financial and other resources required for educational empowerment of the students from marginalized sections.
9.To organize or conduct seminars/symposia/workshops/conferences/exhibitions, etc. regularly on issues of contemporary significance for empowering, educationally and culturally, students belonging to the special needs and of marginalized sections.
10.To organize periodic meetings to monitor the progress of different schemes.The report of the same is to be submitted to the Principal/Teacher-in-Charge. In addition, the Equal Opportunity Cell must submit a Committee Report every 3 months to the Principal/Teacher-in-Charge.
11.To adopt measures to ensure due share of utilization by the backward classes and minorities in admissions, recruitments(teaching and non-teaching posts)and to improve their performances.
12.To expedite legal redressal in matters of violation of equal opportunity.