Dalit PhD Holder Protests Discrimination by OU on Campus

HYDERABAD: For nine days, 47-year-old Dr J. Padmaja, a PhD from Osmania University's chemistry department, has been holding a protest against the OU Teachers Association, alleging systematic discrimination based on her caste and gender which is affecting her job prospects.

Dr Padmaja, who belongs to the Mala sub-caste, said that she did not speak up about the discrimination in during her PhD due to fear and threats. Having surpassed the age criteria now, she is pleading for a special exemption, demanding a job at Osmania University, where she said she was subjected to discrimination.

Holding a placard reading “Protesting against OUTA president and chemistry department professors to stop discrimination,” Dr Padmaja accuses her guide, retired Prof. Ch Anjaneyulu, and former vice chancellor Prof. S. Satyanarayana of directing derogatory comments at her about her Scheduled Caste background.

She also accused OUTA president Prof Manohar and professors from the chemistry department of singling her out due to her Dalit background. She said that despite her teaching experience in schools and JNTU-affiliated institutions, she was unable to get a job due to the systematic discrimination.

Dr Padmaja, who earned her PhD in October 2013 in electrochemistry, said she was explicitly told by specific institutions that they didn't hire people from the SC communities. She recounted an interview at Koti Women's College, where her resume was summarily discarded into a dustbin without an explanation.

She raised serious concerns about the OU Chemistry Department's adherence to procedures for PhD admissions and the recruitment of contract employees and part-time lecturers. She alleged that those in influential positions within the chemistry department played a pivotal role in selecting candidates based on personal preferences, rather than merit.

Asked about the allegations, OUTA president Prof Manohar said they were baseless.

"We conduct every recruitment procedure in a fair manner according to the rule book. Some might do well and some may not. Based on the merit, we pick the candidates," he said.

"Every coin has two sides. Merit students will have their story and the others will have theirs. All the allegations were baseless and should not be entertained," said Prof Manohar.