JGLS organizes Conference on Diversity Discrimination and Social Exclusion in India and the USA with Maurer School of Law Indiana University and NLSIU Bangalore

The Jindal Global Law School, Sonepat (JGLS) and Jindal School of Government and Public Policy recently organized a two day International Conference on “Diversity, Discrimination and Social Exclusion in India and the USA”. The conference was held on October 22 – 23, 2012 and was organized in collaboration with Maurer School of Law, Indiana University and the Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, National Law School of India University, Bangalore..The conference spanned over a period of two days and saw the presentation of over forty research papers, spread across four plenary and six parallel sessions. The two main issues which cut across different sessions were the politics of discrimination and the politics of policy. The former provided structural evidences of discrimination while the latter articulated the ideas and framework that can mitigate discrimination..Approximately 70 delegates from Indiana University, Michigan University, University of Wisconsin, Australian National University, National Law School of India University, Bangalore, Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, New Delhi, and O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, participated in this conference and discussed issues pertaining to the socio-legal and political dimensions of discrimination and exclusion in India and the U.S.A..In his welcome address, Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University, Professor C. Raj Kumar observed that the fight against discrimination and social exclusion is the key to our future. Professor Kumar highlighted the importance of educational institutions and universities playing a critical role in fighting discrimination, promoting diversity and helping in the creation of an inclusive society..Mr. Justice A.P. Shah, former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court spoke about Section 377 of the IPC, introduced during British rule that criminalized sexual activity ‘against the order of nature’ whether it is carnal intercourse or homosexual behavior. He pointed out that discrimination in India based on sexual orientation and identity had been prevalent since the colonial times and underlined the significance of decriminalization..Professor Kevin Brown, Richard S Melvin Professor, Maurer School of Law, Indiana University, welcomed the international exchange of views and recalled the close relationship between O. P. Jindal Global University and Indiana University..Dr. Narendra Jadhav, Member, Planning Commission, delivered the valedictory address at the end of the conference. Stating that it is not enough to allocate resources to Scheduled Castes (SCs) commensurate with their proportion in population, Dr. Jadhav emphasized that such allocations must be stepped up significantly to enable SCs to overcome social exclusion. Stating that poverty, illiteracy and social exclusion are the main challenges faced by historically disadvantaged groups like the Scheduled Castes, Dr. Jadhav stressed that these three socio-economic problems must be combated through the instruments of democracy, education and employment. .This report was prepared by JGLS student, Shreyas Gupta