Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Quotas in education

This refers to the article "Confusion and chaos in professional education" (April 28). Reservation in educational institutions is welcome in a country with many underdeveloped communities that cannot compete with their counterparts. The crux of the problem lies only in its implementation. All institutions, government or otherwise, should earmark a certain number of seats for reserved categories without extending any concession in marks obtained in the qualifying examination. This concession is what upsets general category students. It also leads to under-qualified candidates occupying and wasting precious seats and to a decline in the quality of professionals. If colleges find it difficult to fill up all the seats, they can be thrown open to meritorious candidates of general categories.

Vanaja Daniel,
Tirunelveli, T.N.

* * *

The outcry emanates from the fear of being deprived of a seat in the top institutions despite scoring high marks. The solution would be to increase the number of seats to the extent reservation is sought. Social imbalance cannot be eliminated overnight; it can be addressed only over a few generations.

R. Vijaykumar,
Chennai

* * *

The Government's proposal to introduce 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in Central universities, the IITs, and the IIMs has re-ignited the merit versus caste debate. The proposal is a political gimmick. Those who believe the move will help the backward classes would do well to take a peep into the past. At a time when the rising population and competition have skewed the ratio between the number of applicants and the education opportunities, reservation will add to the pressure on students. Little wonder then, that students are up in arms against the move.

Saher Anjum,
Nagpur

* * *

The views expressed in the article "India Inc., liberalisation, and social responsibility" (April 25) on corporate social responsibility need to be examined in detail. It is time for intellectuals and opinion makers to review the present system of reservation and, at the same time, find ways to uplift the backward. There is nothing wrong in reviewing a decades-old system if it is not yielding the desired result. The captains of industry and the corporate sector will surely be more inclined to provide the much needed basic infrastructure and educational facilities for the backward sections of society, rather than reservation in jobs.

P. Ravikumar,
Mahabubabad, A.P.

* * *

While politicians want statutory reservation for OBCs in the private sector, the managements are afraid that it will dilute their standards and lead to mediocrity. But these institutions should not forget that they are islands of excellence in a sea of poverty and are bound to come under siege in course of time. While students belonging to the socially disadvantaged classes may have the potential to be competitive, it is smothered at an early age by circumstances. The private sector should reach out to them from the primary school stage.

Dinkar Koppikar,
Tallahassee, Florida

* * *

As expected, the sparks of anti-reservation have started to fly. Unless the real issues of social backwardness are addressed, without any artificial support systems, there will continue to exist a wedge in society.

B. Harini,
Hyderabad

* * *

The proposed move is assuming serious proportions. It has the potential to create disturbances, affecting the nation's integrity and harmony. It should be resolved soon.

Vipan Kumar,
Amritsar

* * *

Only if the parties are subjected to the quota system will they empathise with the feelings of students who score high marks but are denied admission because they do not belong to the reserved category. Will politicians tolerate a person polling a lesser number of votes being declared elected?

S. Anand,
Chennai

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Of mail regulation and monopoly
Politics amidst turmoil
Is 'Euston-ism' the new Left in the U.K.?
Maneka to head Energy Globe Jury
Corrections and clarifications
For a world free from chemical weapons
Hero stones
Quotas in education
All is not well
Sri Lankan situation
"There is a fury building up across the country"

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu