The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes the need to address the issues of students belonging to Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) because the students belonging to SEDGs face several challenges and difficulties in accessing quality education because of socio-cultural, economic, and historical reasons.

UGC published special guidelines in 2024 to ensure that students belonging to Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) have a safe and secure environment and equitable access to quality education in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs).

According to “Guidelines to Provide Equitable Opportunity for the Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) in the HEIs” (published by UGC), all HEIs shall set up SEDGs Cell to ensure opportunities for inclusive, equal and quality higher education to the SEDGs students. SEDGs Cell within every HEIs shall ensure the protection of the constitutionally guaranteed rights, dignity, safety, and security of all individuals belonging to the SEDGs and also ensure them equalizing access and opportunities to pursue higher education with the help of the existing statutory bodies such as SC/ST Cell, Equal Opportunity Cell etc.

I am constituting the Social-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) Cell of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata, with effect from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 with the following members as follows:

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes equal opportunity for education for all, irrespective of caste, gender and abilities including differently abled or ‘Divyang’ persons. The introduction of the National Education Policy 2020 has accelerated the need for creation of an 'inclusive education' system that caters to students with both visible and invisible disabilities.

As a step towards inclusive and equitable quality education, AICTE, in 2022, called upon its approved institutions to establish a Cell known as "Equal Opportunity Facilitation Cell” which would address special needs of the students with disabilities and create awareness among stakeholders. St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata established it’s Equal Opportunity Facilitation Cell (EOFC) in the same year.

The Equal Opportunity Facilitation Cell (EOFC) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata has been reconstituted with effect from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 and comprises the following members:

St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata is equipped for facilitating easy access to people with physical disabilities in the campus and is well prepared to manage persons with other visual, speech and hearing impairments.

The following link would show up various facilities for differently abled students which are available in St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata: Facilities for Differently Abled Students