Communications on Dress Code

    Update (29th May 2014): While we haven't received any communication from administration further to the ones listed below, we did enquire with workers' and friends about the present status. While the workers were never told of any changes to the policy (they never are!), the money for the dresses never came next time around (the institute was apparently paying contractor over and above for the dresses!), and consequently it would seem that in practice the policy of separate dresses is apparently not being enforced.

    We still would hope that if not we as "outsiders", at least the workers who bear the brunt of such random decisions are actually made party to those. Even the courtesy of informing them does not seem to be in offing!

    Background: During March 2013 visit to the campus by several alumni associated to Citizens' Forum, they interacted with several workers, including sanitation workers. While they learnt of several instances of discrimination, some of them reflected caste biases. One way this discrimination was of even more concern for the sanitation workers was the then recent order for the "dress codes", which would theoretically identify the workers only by profession, but in practice also the caste since almost all cleaners are from a particular caste. To quote from the meeting minutes:

"One worker brought in the issue of uniforms: in the past IIT had a common uniform for all Class IV workers (e.g. gardeners, cleaners, peons, messengers, security staff etc.), a khaki dress, which was any way not strictly enforced. Since some time however it has made compulsory different coloured dresses for each kind of work - the dress is not convenient for summers any way (it is a rather thick full sleeved dress), but what is worse for sanitation workers, it identifies their profession and reinforces caste stereotypes!"

The communications regarding the same can be found here.

As one of the alumni associated with us remarked after looking at these communications: "the institute has made non-response an art."

• • Citizens' Forum response, 5 Nov, 2013.

  • pointing out the utter callousness shown on the issue so far and urging him to take some action. 

  • Dean of Resources and Alumni's response, 3 Nov, 2013.

  • of which we couldn't make head and tail of!

  • Citizens' Forum Letter to Dean of Resources and Alumni, 3 Nov, 2013.

  • reminding him of the issue and requesting a response.

  • Dean of Resources and Alumni Response, 31 May, 2013.

  • suggesting that he will look into it. 

  • Citizens' Forum letter to Dean of Resources and Alumni, 30 May, 2013.

  • informing him about the issue, and suggesting ways forward.