Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Reservation issue

I am surprised at the argument that the Election Commission has overreached itself in asking HRD Minister Arjun Singh an explanation for violating the model code of conduct (editorial "Protecting islands of excellence," April 11). The Minister by his pronouncements on television made explicit that a move was afoot to introduce 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in Central educational institutions including the IITs and IIMs. That the Cabinet has not considered it yet is immaterial. What is relevant is the Government's intent, which was made amply clear after the electoral process in four States and one Union Territory had started.

K. Saumya,
Mumbai

The timing of the announcement and Mr. Singh's subsequent denial expose the pernicious vote-bank politics of the Congress. The relevant amendment to the Constitution is only an enabling provision empowering the States to extend reservation to the OBCs. Mr. Singh's stand that it is part of constitutional mandate does not hold water.

Col. (retd.) C.V. Venugopalan,
Palakkad, Kerala

While no one is questioning the need to provide opportunities to the marginalised sections, mindless implementation of reservation needs to be questioned. There will always exist elite institutions, which by their very nature should remain as such for the progress of the country. The laudable objective of raising the education levels of the oppressed need not be in conflict with the requirement of maintaining the high standards of the IITs, IIMs and similar elite institutions. Has the Centre exhausted all other avenues of uplifting the educational standards of the backward classes?

Subramanyam Sridharan,
Bangalore

While political expediency may warrant populist moves for short-term gains, it will adversely affect the nation's development. Human resource development is very critical in the era of globalisation. We need to overcome our inbuilt obsessions with caste. Merit should be the hallmark and healthy competition the watchword.

V. Shivkumar,
Goa

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was more than justified in his demand for reservation as certain sections had been suppressed for centuries and needed privileges to be brought into the mainstream. But after almost 60 years of implementation — with additional reservation for the OBCs to boot — it is time to review the policy. Reservation for the SCs and STs should continue for another five years but it should be extended only to the economically backward among them. Then the criterion should be economic backwardness alone without any consideration of caste.

Shreeram Paranjpe,
Mumbai

Reservation is only widening the gap in the quality of education. An affluent student irrespective of caste manages high quality education. And a student classified as belonging to a forward caste ends up with mediocrity because he is not eligible for quality education, the reason being almost 70 per cent of the seats are reserved for some others because the government believes his grandfather committed a crime for which he should be punished. Are the governments penalising their own citizens by continuing and widening reservation?

Sreenivas Rangan Sukumar,
Knoxville, Tennessee

As a student taking the CAT this year, I feel dispirited. The verdure that Indian business and economy are seeing today may not last long if the Government relegates merit to the background. In a country where thousands are competing for a single seat in the IITs or the IIMs, slashing the number of seats available to many by 27 per cent is extremely demoralising. It is clear that development of the backward classes is an ostensible purpose.

Kanika Khurana,
New Delhi

The IITs and IIMs are funded by the state. Their interests should, therefore, lie in serving society rather than the market. The argument that reservation will bring down quality is unacceptable because even candidates in the reserved category will have to cross the cut-off barrier.

S. Ajith,
Salem, T.N.

In the era of globalisation, every section should be brought into the mainstream. It is the state's responsibility to take steps for the uplift of the socially, economically and educationally backward people. If not now, when? If not we, who? Reservation is not meant to harm anyone but is meant to ensure that no one is left behind.

Sushil K. Singh,
Kanpur

It is amusing to see so many protesting the proposal. They are full of pious advice on how the Government should ensure that the underprivileged get decent education at the primary level. We don't frequently come across such suggestions! When the media carry stories of atrocities on Dalits, they hardly respond making it clear that they couldn't care less. But when it boils down to their bread and butter, they raise a hue and cry. But they are out of luck. All the main political parties want to court the OBCs. So the reservation move will stand.

Krishnan Nayar,
London

As expected, many are protesting the Government's move. I wonder why they are wasting their energy. Like taxes, reservation is also a permanent part of life in India. It is better to reconcile with the reality and carry on. No political party will ever be willing to be seen as advocating any measure against reservation. It will be with us as long as India exists.

N.K. Raghavendran,
Bangalore

The Government should adopt uniformity in the reservation policy. It should not only widen reservation in the IITs and IIMs but also extend it to the defence forces, Parliament, Central and State Ministries and if possible, to our cricket team. Once the whole country is brought under the reservation regime, we can put an end to the debate and get on with life.

Siva Sivasubramanian,
Beecroft, New South Wales

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