UGC Mandates Gender Sensitization Units in All Colleges: Institutionalizing Equality on Indian Campuses
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- 21 Apr 2025 --
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In a progressive move aimed at promoting gender justice in higher education, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all colleges and universities across India to establish Gender Sensitization Units (GSUs) as a mandatory institutional requirement.
This directive is part of a broader push to make campuses safe, inclusive, and empowering spaces for all genders, especially women and LGBTQ+ students, who often face discrimination, harassment, and invisibility within academic environments.
The Context: Campus Inequality Runs Deep
Despite landmark judgments and awareness campaigns, incidents of sexual harassment, gender stereotyping, and non-inclusive behavior continue to plague educational institutions. From unreported sexual misconduct to curriculum bias and lack of representation in leadership, the problems are systemic and under-addressed.
While Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) were made mandatory after the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, there was no centralized framework to prevent harassment through sensitization, training, and student engagement—until now.
What the UGC Notification Says
As per the official communication issued in March 2025, the UGC has asked all Central, State, Deemed, and Private Universities to:
1. Set Up Gender Sensitization Units (GSUs)
- Each unit must consist of faculty members, student representatives, and non-teaching staff.
- The unit must function independently of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), focusing on education and prevention, not redressal.
2. Conduct Mandatory Orientation Programs
- Annual gender sensitization workshops are to be held for:
- Freshers during induction
- Faculty and administrative staff during the academic year
- Topics include gender equality, LGBTQ+ inclusion, sexual harassment laws, and intersectional identities.
3. Introduce Gender Modules in Curriculum
- All undergraduate programs must include at least one module or elective on gender studies or feminist theory, either under Ability Enhancement Courses (AECs) or General Electives (GEs).
4. Publicly Display Gender Justice Guidelines
- Colleges must display posters, helpline numbers, and gender inclusion statements prominently across campus.
5. Annual Reporting to UGC
- Institutions are required to submit compliance reports, detailing:
- Workshops conducted
- Budget allocated
- Number of participants and feedback analysis
Why This Move Matters
a) Shifts Focus From Reaction to Prevention
While ICCs are crucial, they act only after harm occurs. GSUs will proactively build a culture of respect, safety, and awareness, making harassment less likely in the first place.
b) Creates Safe Space for Dialogue
GSUs can act as safe zones where students—especially from marginalized genders—can discuss concerns without fear, thus building community trust.
c) Standardizes Gender Equity Across Institutions
Until now, gender sensitization was optional or symbolic in many colleges. This directive makes it uniform, mandatory, and measurable.
Ground Reality: Gender Gap in Academia Is Still Stark
- According to AISHE 2023 data, women make up less than 30% of faculty in engineering, law, and economics.
- LGBTQ+ students still face bullying and dropouts, with no dedicated support structures in most universities.
- Several institutions do not comply with ICC guidelines, and many rural colleges lack formal mechanisms for grievance redressal or awareness.
Voices From the Campus
Anjali Rao, a final-year student at a Delhi university, shared:
“We need more than just a POSH policy on paper. What we need is real education about consent, identity, and safe expression. GSUs can make that happen.”
Some faculty members have welcomed the change but stressed the need for adequate training, resources, and autonomy for the units to be effective.
Legal Experts React
Senior Advocate Indira Jaising, who was instrumental in shaping sexual harassment law in India, noted:
“Preventive sensitization is the missing link in campus equality. Gender Units backed by law and budget can fill this gap and ensure institutional responsibility.”
Challenges Ahead
- Tokenism risk: Some colleges may establish GSUs to comply formally, without engaging meaningfully.
- Resistance: Conservative or male-dominated faculty bodies may resist discussions on sexuality, gender identity, or intersectionality.
- Lack of trained personnel: Institutions will need capacity building, involving trainers, counselors, and gender experts from outside.
What Institutions Need to Do Now
- Immediately form GSUs with student and staff participation
- Schedule at least two sensitization events per semester
- Allocate a fixed budget from student welfare or outreach funds
- Ensure GSUs collaborate with ICCs, but retain separate mandates
- Conduct surveys to assess campus climate, with baseline data
Education Without Equality Is Incomplete
The UGC’s mandate is more than a policy—it is a cultural intervention. One that asks colleges to not just produce graduates, but conscientious, compassionate citizens who understand gender justice.
Because a university is not just a place to learn algebra or anatomy—it is where we must also learn respect, empathy, and inclusion. And that learning must be institutionalized, not improvised.
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