The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) introduced a controversial caste category column on this year’s hall tickets.
However, after facing a lot of criticism from parents, teachers, and students, the board announced the withdrawal of the caste section from the hall tickets. MSBSHSE stated that newly prepared hall tickets will be made available for download from January 23.
Sanjay Gayakwad, father of a 16-year-old daughter, said, "My daughter will give her boards this year. She studies at Modern High School and Junior College. The caste category section on the hall tickets is being cancelled, and I'm glad that the board admitted their mistake. However, the other information regarding the examination of the students will remain as it is. The hall ticket should contain the information that is relevant; the caste section has no relevance. The hall ticket is merely used for documentation for other documents, and therefore, the student's basic information and information related to the exam is needed."
MSBSHSE stated that newly prepared hall tickets will be made available for download from January 23.
'Dismiss those who approved it'
Education activist Dilip Vishvakarma voiced his strong opposition to the inclusion of caste information on hall tickets and later its withdrawal: "The purpose of a hall ticket is to enable students to take their exams. Adding caste information is entirely inappropriate and unnecessary. Even when I was a student, there was no such thing mentioned in our hall ticket. We teach our children about equality and no discrimination, and then we mention caste in their admit card. This is hypocritical behavior. After we raised objections, they have withdrawn it, but that's not the point. It's not a mistake that they will do it and then ask for apologies. The seniors who have approved this should be dismissed. They must have met and discussed everything before releasing it. What is their motive? It should be investigated. The board has also created confusion and contradictions where none existed before."
Dr. Pandit Vidyasagar, ex-professor at SPPU and Vice-Chancellor of SRTM University, Nanded, said, "The addition of caste in the admit card was completely baseless. It's good that it has been withdrawn after public outcry, but in the first place, it shouldn't have happened. We should think in the direction of abolishing the caste system rather than mentioning it everywhere."
