Strong mechanism must be in place at AIIMS Selection Committee to protect interests of SC, ST candidates: Parliamentary Panel

New Delhi: Raising concerns regarding bias faced by the SC/ST candidates at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi, a Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes tabled its report in the Lok Sabha recently.

As per the panel, headed by Lok Sabha MP Dr Kirit Premjibhai Solanki, several candidates belonging to the SC/ST category were "deliberately declared 'not suitable' because of wrong biased assessment by the Selection Committee just to deprive SC/ST candidates of their legitimate rights to be part of faculty member."

To address this issue, the panel has suggested setting up a Selection Committee comprising primarily of SC/ST experts and Chairman. "Following this process, induction of the SC/ST suitable candidates will be seen apparently at all positions of the faculty," the panel mentioned in its report.

"The Committee are of the considered view that members from SC/ST community should be mandatorily included in the Selection Committee in order to provide representation and to participate in policies being framed to enhance the prospects of SC/ST employees in AIIMS," the panel mentioned in its report.

The panel highlighted that as per the data submitted by the Union Health Ministry, back in 2018, 19 posts were unfilled due to "candidates not being found suitable".

Declining to accept the frequently "stereo-type reply" of the Government that "no sufficient number of suitable candidate could be found", the panel observed that "This is in fact not a correct picture of assessment of the SC/ST candidates who are equally bright and deserving. But they are deliberately declared as ‘not suitable’ because of wrong biased assessment by the Selection Committee just to deprive SC/ST candidates of their legitimate rights to be part of faculty member."

It was observed by the panel that this vital issue can be addressed in a right direction by constituting a Selection Committee comprising primarily of SC/ST experts and Chairman. Following this process, induction of the SC/ST suitable candidates will be seen apparently at all positions of the faculty.

Noting that there is negligible presece or no presence of SC and ST members in the Standing Selection Committee/Board of AIIMS, New Delhi, the panel opined that this deprives "deprive SCs/STs to be part of the decision making process and policy matters specially with regard to selection/recruitment processes and also in helping and protecting the interests of SCs and STs in recruitment matters."

"The Committee is of the opinion that a robust recruitment mechanism need to be in place to ensure that the interest of the socially and economically backward section are safeguarded viz. constitution of a Selection Committee comprising primarily of SC/ST experts or mandatorily inclusion of members belonging to SC/ST Community in the Standing Selection Committee. The Committee are of the firm view that following this process, induction of the suitable SC/ST candidates will be seen apparently at all positions of the faculty posts. The Committee expect AIIMS, New Delhi to take concrete steps in this regard, if needed, through amendment in AIIMS Act which will henceforth include members belonging to SC/ST Community in the Standing Selection Committee/Board. The reply of the Government stating that a provision is already in place for selections/recruitments as laid down in AIIMS Act is not acceptable to the Committee. The Committee, strongly reiterate their earlier recommendation that a strong mechanism must be in place at the Selection Committee level to protect the interests of SC/ST candidates in an objective manner during the recruitment processes," the panel mentioned in its report.

It has also been mentioned by the panel in its report that in the future after filling up all the existing vacant positions, no faculty seat reserved for SC/ST shall be kept vacant for more than six months under any circumstances.

To view the Parliamentary Panel report, click on the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/parliamentary-panel-sc-st-232024.pdf

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