INTRODUCTION

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has given priority to the downtrodden students and staffs during IX plan period and given direction to all the universities to establish SC/ST Cell. The SC/ST Cell at Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya University Ballari was constituted in the year 2012. After the establishment of the Cell in the university, it specifically concentrated on the welfare of the SC/ST students and staffs. The main aim of the Cell is to monitor the guidelines issued by the MHRD, the University Grants Commission and by the government of Karnataka from time to time. The Cell ensures the effective implementation of the reservation policies in the university admissions to students in various courses of studies, accommodation in the hostels, appointments to the teaching and non-teaching posts, and allotment of quarters, establishment of Book Bank in the university, and maintenance of roster register in the University.

VISION

To be an institution of excellence in higher education that continually responds to the changing social realities through the development and application of knowledge, towards creating a people-centred and ecologically sustainable society that promotes and protects the dignity, equality, social justice and human rights for all, with special emphasis on marginalised and vulnerable groups.

Mission

In pursuance of its vision, the university organizes teaching programmes to facilitate the development of competent and committed professionals for practice, research and teaching; undertakes research; develops and disseminates knowledge; and reaches out to the larger community through extension, at the local, regional, national and international levels.

Activities of SC/ST Special Cell :

The SC/ST Special Cell was established in the University to co-ordinate with the university authorities in the implementation of the various policies and programmes launched by the Central Government, MHRD, UGC and State Government for the benefit of the SC/ST students.

The Cell undertakes the activities to develop awareness among the SC/ST students, especially from the rural areas.

The SC/ST Cell is giving wide publicity through circulars to all the faculties and informs the students about the various scholarships; namely, Post-Metric Scholarship, Karnataka Higher Education Special Scholarship, Student scholarship Portal, Single Girl Child Scholarship, Meritorious Scholarship, P.G. Women Scholarship, Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship, P.G. Scholarship for professional courses, ICMR, CSIR, ICSSR and other Scholarships, and fellowships.

The Cell takes due care in establishing the Book Bank and Book Grants for the SC/ST students of the University. The Cell also advices the students to utilize the facilities of the Book Bank and to borrow books depending on availability.

The University is providing statistical information periodically and promptly on all aspects to the Government of India and the State Government.

The Cell concentrates on accommodation of men and women students in hostels.

The SC/ST Cell has taken up the problems of the SC/ST students with the university authorities and has solved some of them amicably.