A STUDY OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT MEASURES IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN INDIA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SELECTED REGULATIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION

Abstract

This study pertains to the implementation of the guidelines and regulations issued by the University Grants Commission in its commitment to promoting equity through higher education in the country and ensure Empowerment of Women. Analysis of secondary data collected from the Annual Reports of the Commission for five years from 2015-16 to 2019-20 and documents uploaded on its Saksham portal for the years 2015-16 to 2020-21 revealed that in the period under study, not even one fourth of the Universities in the country have submitted the Annual Return. For Colleges, the maximum rate of compliance during the period is so negligible (2.3%). Not even 25% of the total Universities in the country have constituted Internal Complaints Committee. The disposal of Cases of Sexual Harassment by Colleges has been done more efficiently than the Universities during the period. Since the compliance by Higher Educational Institutions (HEI) of various regulations of the commission, including appointment of Gender Champions has been very low, it is suggested that. all the HEIs must ensure timely compliance of the circulars and letters of the UGC issued in this connection.