My stand on the reservation issue
Had I written this a month ago,you would've found my views completely different to the ones I'm about to express.Such is the complexity involved in this issue that it is impossible for someone directly affected to take a logical stand.However,ever since I've secured my seat in an institute of higher learning,I have begun to analyze the issue in an unbiased perspective...
To begin with,let me just say that in a civilized society,there is no room for as heinous a concept as reservation.The practice of providing special benefits to a certain section of society is a democratically flawed principle.It not only violates democratic guidelines,it also promotes the very thing that reservation tries to abolish:discrimination.The very fact that reservation plays a major role in our lives is what keeps discrimination alive in a civilized society.
However,the Indian society is so stooped in traditions and customs that the normal rules of a civilized society are not applicable to ours.Sati and dowry still have'nt been abolished.We still look down upon people of lower castes.Our contempt towards economically weaker sections of society is evident in our behaviour...In short,Reservation is a necessary evil...
Inspite of the the incredulity that the above statement might evoke,it is true that there is no better cure for our ailments than reservation.Whether we like it or not,reservation still exists in our society.If it didnot,why would Garima Godara been denied admission to a supposedly sophisticated institute. Here's what Barkha Dutt had to say about the Garima Godara issue:
"I learnt after the programme was over — and it is significant that neither she nor her parents brought this up themselves — that she is an OBC.
For some months now, as the debate over reservation has raged, opponents of the quotas have made the same point again and again: we should be a society where merit matters. It’s a compelling argument, and one that I have personally supported.
But what do the anti-quota street fighters have to say now? Here’s a girl who competed in the mainstream, her own DAV pitched against the trendier, richer, big names. But her merit was swallowed up by prejudice.
Is it any wonder then that supporters of reservation believe that the system is stacked against them, and that merit is a con-word used by upper-caste tricksters?"
This is what convinced me.We cannot demand a society based on merit,and then kill merit at the same time.I cannot but agree with Ms.Dutt...
So what is the solution to the reservation issue?I have heard many theories,and here's what I suggest:
1.A fresh census to determine the exact percentage of OBC's in our society.If reservation has to be implemented,I suggest it should be based on current statistics,not on the 1930 census(upon which the Mandal commission's recommendations are based).After all,49.5% is too big a number to truly reflect the people in genuine need of reservatiom.
2.Since the number of seats in higher educational institutes cannot be increased at such short notice,a staggered implementation of reservation is the best solution.Implement 5% now,10% after five years,20% after fifteen years and so on.
3.Since the purpose of reservation is the upliftment of an entire section of society,care must be taken that the same individuals cannot use reservation twice.For example,a person,whose father or mother has used the reservation system to reach the echeleons of society,should not be allowed to use reservation to again uplift himself.He after all has had access to the same resources as students of the general category,and reserving a seat for such individuals would be unjust.
4.Lastly,I suggest a time frame for reservation.Reservation cannot go on indefinitely.I suggest 100 years after Independence would be the right time to abolish reservations.
This is my view.You,dear reader,can have your own perspective.Have no "reservations" about expressing yours.After all,dialogue is the only means by which we can reach a consensus on an issue as complicated as this.
To begin with,let me just say that in a civilized society,there is no room for as heinous a concept as reservation.The practice of providing special benefits to a certain section of society is a democratically flawed principle.It not only violates democratic guidelines,it also promotes the very thing that reservation tries to abolish:discrimination.The very fact that reservation plays a major role in our lives is what keeps discrimination alive in a civilized society.
However,the Indian society is so stooped in traditions and customs that the normal rules of a civilized society are not applicable to ours.Sati and dowry still have'nt been abolished.We still look down upon people of lower castes.Our contempt towards economically weaker sections of society is evident in our behaviour...In short,Reservation is a necessary evil...
Inspite of the the incredulity that the above statement might evoke,it is true that there is no better cure for our ailments than reservation.Whether we like it or not,reservation still exists in our society.If it didnot,why would Garima Godara been denied admission to a supposedly sophisticated institute. Here's what Barkha Dutt had to say about the Garima Godara issue:
"I learnt after the programme was over — and it is significant that neither she nor her parents brought this up themselves — that she is an OBC.
For some months now, as the debate over reservation has raged, opponents of the quotas have made the same point again and again: we should be a society where merit matters. It’s a compelling argument, and one that I have personally supported.
But what do the anti-quota street fighters have to say now? Here’s a girl who competed in the mainstream, her own DAV pitched against the trendier, richer, big names. But her merit was swallowed up by prejudice.
Is it any wonder then that supporters of reservation believe that the system is stacked against them, and that merit is a con-word used by upper-caste tricksters?"
This is what convinced me.We cannot demand a society based on merit,and then kill merit at the same time.I cannot but agree with Ms.Dutt...
So what is the solution to the reservation issue?I have heard many theories,and here's what I suggest:
1.A fresh census to determine the exact percentage of OBC's in our society.If reservation has to be implemented,I suggest it should be based on current statistics,not on the 1930 census(upon which the Mandal commission's recommendations are based).After all,49.5% is too big a number to truly reflect the people in genuine need of reservatiom.
2.Since the number of seats in higher educational institutes cannot be increased at such short notice,a staggered implementation of reservation is the best solution.Implement 5% now,10% after five years,20% after fifteen years and so on.
3.Since the purpose of reservation is the upliftment of an entire section of society,care must be taken that the same individuals cannot use reservation twice.For example,a person,whose father or mother has used the reservation system to reach the echeleons of society,should not be allowed to use reservation to again uplift himself.He after all has had access to the same resources as students of the general category,and reserving a seat for such individuals would be unjust.
4.Lastly,I suggest a time frame for reservation.Reservation cannot go on indefinitely.I suggest 100 years after Independence would be the right time to abolish reservations.
This is my view.You,dear reader,can have your own perspective.Have no "reservations" about expressing yours.After all,dialogue is the only means by which we can reach a consensus on an issue as complicated as this.
posted by Siddharth Trivedi at
12:03 PM
3 Comments:
Mera Bharat Mahan
Hindustan Times 8th July news carries the following:
While there have been recent cases of students scoring 90 per cent and not getting into colleges of their choice, two All India Engineering Entrance Examination 2006 candidates who scored six on 100 have been selected for admission in the engineering course of Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra.
Rajesh Kisku of West Bengal and Ashok Jambhule of Maharashtra (names changed) will study civil engineering and biotechnology respectively, thanks to the Central Counselling Board (CCB) of the AIEEE. Both belong to the Scheduled Tribe category. They aren't the only ones to benefit from reservation. Others with scores of 7, 10, 11 and 13 will also pursue engineering in this premier institution.
They've got it made for now but there are many who aren't happy about it. "It is correct. These are facts," says BIT V-C Prof S.K. Mukherjee, blaming it on the CBSE norms. All-India seats are distributed state-wise and the same pattern is adopted while distributing SC/ST category seats. If a reserved category candidate with less marks opts for BIT in the CCB, he gets admission.
"Such situations are a matter of concern. There should be a minimum cut-off mark," Prof Mukherjee says. On the pattern of the IITs, he says, marks/rank obtained by a candidate in a competitive exam must be linked with marks obtained in a conventional exam.
What's more, things could get worse. "Reserved category candidates with lesser marks may get admission during the second round of counselling, " the V-C says. "Some 50 reserved category seats are still vacant. And chances are that students who scored 1 or 2 may be considered for admission," says a BIT professor.
That means candidates who scored 270 would come last in the list of general category candidates granted admission. "It's not fair," says Samrendra, one such candidate. Admission over, the academically weak students find it hard to cope, says a professor of civil engineering.
By
camelpost, at 6:49 AM
Archiects of Future India:
This is an analysis of the ranks of students admitted at NIT Calicut from Kerala: Source Hindu Education Plus 11/7/2006.
Branch, Last rank in open category
First Rank in SC Category,Last in SC Category.
Architecture 1992 7597 15799
Civil 14054 99803 113527
Comp Science 5186 41238 83642
Electrical 7246 37792 85362
Electronics 2921 12058 37362
Mech 8191 38875 82922
ProdEngg 9907 89380 90498
Chemical 12326 92769 102590
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By
camelpost, at 7:54 AM
I have this rather naive theory that economic status should be the criteria for reservation.Kindly enlighten me by lambasting this theory with some powerful counter-examples.
By
Gautam, at 4:12 PM
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