The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Educational Access for Dalit-Adivasi Students in Indian Universities
This paper explores the challenges faced by first-generation Dalit-Adivasi students in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Caste, a deeply entrenched social hierarchy, places Dalits at the lowest rung of society. Adivasis, while outside the caste system, are similarly subjected to socio-economic and cultural oppression, especially with the increasing political Hinduization of their identity. Despite constitutional protections against caste-based discrimination, these groups continue to face daily socio-cultural and financial barriers, which the pandemic has exacerbated, especially in educational spaces.
The COVID-19 pandemic, by deepening the digital divide, further widened educational inequalities in universities, with Dalit-Adivasi students particularly affected. This study examines how these students navigated the transition to online learning amidst systemic failures. Findings highlight how the government and universities failed to address their unique needs. Issues such as poor internet connectivity, lack of access to digital devices, and the unaffordability of internet services created significant learning gaps and mental health challenges.
Despite seeking assistance from university SC-ST cells, students reported receiving little to no support, even at prominent Indian universities. This paper argues for the urgent need for targeted interventions, inclusive policies, and institutional support systems to mitigate the pandemic's impact on historically marginalized students in times of crisis.
Keywords: Caste, Dalit-Adivasi(Indigenous), Universities, India, Covid-19
Ashok Danavath is a first-generation post-graduate Indigenous scholar from Telangana and a former Government of India National Overseas Scholarship Fellow at the International Institute of Social Studies, The Hague. Currently, working as a Senior Researcher for the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR).