The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Opinion on caste-wise quota in jobs divided

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 06, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Opinion on caste-wise quota in jobs divided

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, DEC. 5. There seems to almost equal number of people for and against job reservation on the basis of caste in the private sector, according to a survey done by a city college. While those in support of the demand constitute 48.4 per cent, those against are 49.6 per cent.

The field study conducted by the Department of Visual Communication-Culture and Communication in Loyola College was done in two phases between November 3 and 10, and November 26 and 28. It covered 3,256 persons, according to Prof. Rajanayagam, head of the department. The exercise was undertaken to assess factors behind the trends in the political culture of the State.

Demand in urban areas

Interestingly, those in favour of the demand in urban areas are less — 46.2 per cent — compared to those residing in Dalit colonies — 73.9 per cent. Opposition to the demand among those working in private establishments constitutes 51.4 per cent while there is huge support among casual labourers at 63.9 per cent. The study found that as the level of education increases, the support for the demand decreases. While support is 59.8 per cent among the uneducated, it is 52.2 per cent among those who had studied up to Standard V, 49.6 per cent among those who had studied between Standards VI and XII and 39.9 per cent for who had been to university.

Another interesting aspect is that opposition was more among volunteers of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party.This was not the case with members of other political parties.

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