look news india
Mumbai – A discussion session organized by the Gender Cell of IIT Mumbai has once again sparked controversy. The session was on the theme ‘How Banwari Devi changed my life’ and discussed the issue of gender inequality in the workplace. But the student organization has accused the IIT administration of canceling the discussion session without giving any reason. The IIT administration has claimed that the debate has not been canceled but has been postponed. Therefore the issue of academic freedom in IITs has again come to the surface.
The Gender Cell of IIT Mumbai had organized this discussion on 4 January. In this, social activist Devi Kavita Srivastava along with lawyer Vrinda Grover were to provide guidance. But before the program the students received an e-mail that the discussion session had been cancelled. In which the students alleged that no reason was given for canceling the discussion session.
Banwari Devi’s struggle led to the Vishaka Guidelines on Violence at Workplace. Vishakha Guidelines were to be discussed in this discussion session. But the administration canceled the program. This is the type of IIT Mumbai to eliminate all possibilities of dialogue. Also, the Ambedkar-Periyar-Phule Study Circle organization of students of IIT Mumbai has accused the institute of usurping democracy and academic freedom in this way.
Students also raised the question that if the gender cell of the institute is not capable of running the programme, then how can the cell prevent incidents of discrimination or sexual violence against women. Also, the institute has canceled many programs before, so students are worried about whether the program should be organized or not.