Neo-liberal State and Privatisation of Higher Education: Manifestations and Challenges in Assam

With the crisis of the Keynesian welfare state, nations across the world adopted the policy of neo liberalism which promised unprecedented growth with an active intervention of the market and a consequent restructured role of the state in favour of market principles. Influence of neo liberal policy agenda on the higher education sector around the world manifested in dismantling of public services and entry of new actors with for-profit motive. Private investment in higher education with profit motive has noticeably emerged and enhanced in India too as well as in different states with serious ramifications. This paper is an attempt to explore and understand the nature and extent of privatisation in the higher education sector of the state of Assam along with consequences brought about by the phenomenon of privatisation in terms of accessibility and equity. Drawing upon theoretical and empirical data analysis, the paper analyses as to how privatisation of higher education can reinforce socio economic inequality by barring the accessibility of economically weaker sections of the society.