Kharge’s speech highlights low SC/ST and disabled enrollment figures

Kharge presented stark statistics to underscore the disparity in higher education. While the nation hosts over 70,000 colleges and universities, enrollment of SC and ST students continues to lag behind the national average, according to official data.

Equally alarming, the proportion of students with disabilities stands at a meagre 0.12 percent of total enrolments. Kharge argued that the current curriculum and institutional policies fail to address the needs of these groups, effectively relegating them to the margins.

He called for a comprehensive review of admission norms, scholarship schemes, and infrastructure to ensure that education becomes truly inclusive. The opposition warned that without decisive action, the gap between privileged and under‑privileged learners will only widen.