ADVERTISEMENTs
.png)
CasteFiles hails Rutgers' no to caste as protected category
The advocacy group stated that Rutgers' stance reflects its commitment to a balanced and inclusive environment, adhering to Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
CasteFiles is an advocacy group in the US. / Castefiles
CasteFiles has applauded Rutgers University's decision to reject adding caste as a protected category under its anti-discrimination policies, calling the move a "mature and well-thought-through decision."
The advocacy group stated that Rutgers' stance reflects its commitment to a balanced and inclusive environment, adhering to Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin.
On Jan.13, Rutgers University stated it would ban all forms of caste discrimination but would not add caste as a separate protected category in its anti-discrimination policies, asserting that existing policies sufficiently cover such issues under broader categories like race, religion, ancestry, and national origin.
Richa Gautam, founder of CasteFiles, supported the decision while emphasizing the group's opposition to caste-based profiling. "The uphill battle against caste policy has been a lesson in achieving moral victories. We have always stood firmly against discrimination, but adding caste as a policy category amounts to profiling Indian American students—a move that is unacceptable in the USA. I am glad to see Rutgers University acknowledge this and affirm that caste is already covered under existing laws. Adding caste as a separate category would only harm students through unnecessary and discriminatory profiling."
Gautam also advised caution regarding future policies. "I strongly urge Rutgers to avoid including ambiguous and divisive terms like caste in DEI surveys. Such surveys inherently profile individuals and can lead to discriminatory outcomes. We have successfully stopped similar caste surveys at other universities and will remain vigilant in countering any such attempts at Rutgers."
Abhijit Bagal, legal director at CasteFiles, also supported the university's stance while addressing criticisms. "In our legal notice and press interviews, we highlighted the critical issue of Prof. Audrey Truschke's shifting and inconsistent definitions of caste. Unfortunately, instead of addressing our valid concerns, we have been unfairly labeled as a 'far-right group.' Let me clarify—CasteFiles is not a political entity. We are a policy think tank dedicated to challenging discriminatory and harmful policies, and we will continue to advocate for fairness and equity."
The task force, formed as part of an agreement between Rutgers and the Rutgers AAUP-AFT union, had been tasked with evaluating whether caste should be explicitly included in the university’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment.
While the task force’s August 2024 report acknowledged that caste-based discrimination exists at Rutgers, the university ultimately decided that the issue is sufficiently addressed by existing policies.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
ADVERTISEMENT
.jpg)
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login