Separate attendance for SC students at Ludhiana college

Ludhiana : Installation of a separate biometric machine for SC/BC students outside the Lajpat Rai DAV College, Jagraon, office has triggered a controversy in the institution.
The college authorities have issued orders to SC/BC students to mark their attendance on the biometric machine to avail the post-matric scholarship.
While the attendance of general students is marked by teachers on registers, all SC students, who have applied for scholarship, have to mark their attendance on the biometric machine.Decrying the practice as “unjust and unjustified”, the SC students alleged that it smacks of “discrimination” against them.
Meanwhile, students associated with the Punjab Students Union (PSU) today distributed pamphlets in the college against the alleged caste discrimination. “This reminds us about the practice of untouchability,” said an SC student.Later, the college authorities called SC/BC students in the seminar hall today and told them that the Directorate of Public Instructions (DPI), Colleges, had issued a letter to the college to install biometric machine to ensure the attendance of the SC students desirous of availing the scholarship. The faculty members also asked the SC students to “beware of the people who are trying to involve them in politics for their vested interests”.
When Principal Dr Karan Sharma was asked to show the letter of the DPI office, he provided a letter issued by the Assistant Director (Scholarship) dated February 10, 2016, in which SC/BC words were not mentioned.The subject of the letter was “to assure the attendance of students in higher education institutes”. Referring to an earlier letter issued on December 24, 2015, Sarita Chopra, Assistant Director (scholarship), instructed the colleges to introduce biometric system in educational institutions to ensure the attendance and give benefit of scholarship to eligible students. She further directed the college to install biometric system for all students who have taken admission in separate courses. The Principal said: “The DPI (Colleges) had issued a letter and given verbal directions to the college staff to install biometric system to avoid dummy admissions.” On being asked whether the DPI’s instructions were specific to the SC/BC category of students, Dr Sharma said, “We are confused about the directions they issued. They told us verbally to install a machine for the attendance of SC/BC students, but the letter does not mention the category.”
Karamjit Kotakpura from the PSU alleged that the college authorities had been implementing the anti-Dalit agenda of the RSS and trying to revive caste-based discrimination among students. The biometric system should either be implemented for all or its selective implementation should stop. “The students who opposed the practice were threatened with rustication from the college. We will stage a protest against this practice,” he said. There are 182 beneficiaries of the post-matric scholarship in the college.