Ooty college complains over alleged collection of students’ caste details at blood camp

The Government Arts College in Udhagamandalam has filed a complaint with Nilgiris district police over the alleged collection of students’ caste details during a blood donation camp. The camp was held at the college on Wednesday, September 30. In his complaint, Principal J.

Ebenasar said students had initially been asked to complete only the register supplied by the Government Medical College and Hospital in Udhagamandalam. The college alleged that, after the camp began, Mera Yuva Bharat’s Nilgiris district coordinator distributed a separate form seeking additional student information, including caste. Mera Yuva Bharat operates under the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

The complaint identified the coordinator as S. Ranjithkumar and alleged that the collection of the information had misled the college. It requested that the police initiate action.

Students who volunteered to donate blood reportedly objected to being asked for their caste details. Some recorded videos of the form, which contained a column asking donors to state whether they belonged to the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Other Backward Class or general category. The college said the separate form had not been part of the register provided by the medical college and hospital.

The supplied material does not include a response from Ranjithkumar, Mera Yuva Bharat, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports or the police. It also does not state whether the collected forms were retained, how many students completed them or whether the police opened an investigation. The complaint has placed the focus on the information requested from students during an event organised for blood donation.

Further action will depend on the police’s consideration of the allegations and any explanations provided by the coordinator or the organisation.