Citizens' Forum Letter to Dean of Resources and Alumni, 5th Nov 2013

From:Citizens' Forum, IITK.

To: Dean of Resources and Alumni IITK.

CC: Convenor, Faculty Forum IITK; Prof. Harish Karnick; Prof. Shobha Madan.

Subject: RE: Uniforms for sanitation workers

Date: Tue, 5 Nov 2013 01:05:42 +0000

Dear Prof. Munshi,

The email I wrote to you in spring was not a trivial matter even if congenial in tone. It is a serious issue which was brought forward when visiting alumni met with Valmiki workers alone. At the end of May, you had written that you will deal with the file when you return after 4 weeks. We have waited four months for a response. Your  brushing it away and passing the buck to Prof. Madan with your one line no-response is disappointing, in fact shocking. 

As alumni, we were writing to Dean of Resources & Alumni asking his involvement in this sensitive matter. The only reason we had copied to some faculty members is that we were hoping that a conversation will start amongst faculty and then with sanitation workers to find an equitable and acceptable solution. 

We do not need to consult Prof. Madan for more information on the issue. We had already provided it to you after our meetings with workers during our visit last March. We are looking for a leadership and an action to remedy the situation. We would of course welcome Prof. Madan or any other faculty cooperating with you.

For hundreds of years our society has discriminated against Dalits; for over sixty five years the practice has been made illegal in India and yet the practice continues. May be the alumni are naive or utopian but we believe that our cherished alma mater can do better. It can set an example for creating a society where no matter what sector of society can thrive with its dignity and human rights intact. 

We obviously want to share this vexing issue (pertaining sanitation workers) with alumni at large seeking their views. Before we embark on this, we as alumnus are wondering if you as Dean of Alumni affairs are willing to take a leadership and initiate a discussion in the community with the various stakeholders on the campus. 

In this context, we suggest the following concrete actions:

(1) There should not be any discrimination by having different colours for sanitation workers.

(2) All uniforms should be comfortable for the specific seasons and must account for the appropriate safety required for the specific nature of the type of work they do.

(3) Workers should be consulted and their opinion sought on matter of design and functionality.Best regards

Sushil Handa

On behalf of Citizens' Forum of IITK alumni