The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Quota issue

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Thursday, May 18, 2006

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Quota issue

The protests against the Centre's proposal to reserve 27 per cent seats for the Other Backward Classes in Central universities are motivated by vested interests. The issue is not about the dilution of standards; it is about denying the backward citizens access to higher education. If the striking students are indeed concerned about declining standards, why do they remain silent on the issue of management quota seats? It is well known that admission to colleges through the quota is by hefty capitation fee. Does it admit meritorious, poor students?

K.M. Abbas,
Ernakulam, Kerala

The protests are unfortunate and unjust. The elite have forgotten that they have enjoyed 3,000 years of 100 per cent reservation in every aspect of life — from education to law making. The backward classes had no access to education. Even today, most sweepers are Dalits and almost all priests belong to the forward caste. The forward castes have not become elite overnight. Better education and occupational opportunities, combined with a false sense of superiority, have helped through generations. It is now time to empower the marginalised sections.

Yogesh Kumar,
New Delhi

None of the medical students who have taken to the streets raised their voice when the NRI quota was introduced. Merit-will-suffer, it is evident, is only in the mind.

E. Arvind,
Bangalore

It is time the impression that the forward castes are super rich and capable of spending lakhs on education was dispelled. A majority of these students come from the lower and middle classes. Reservation will deprive them of the opportunity to come up in life.

Vijaya Krishna,
Secunderabad

Merit is a misnomer for prejudice — prejudice based on religion, and caste. And it is deep-rooted and well-entrenched in people's psyche. It manifests in many subtle and not-so-subtle ways in all aspects of our life. As long as caste continues to be part of our socio-economic discourse, we need laws to ensure justice and equality.

J.C. Anthony,
Bangalore

The Government would do well to keep the following in mind before going ahead with its proposal: categorisation of OBCs is disputable as it is a State subject. Some castes are treated as OBC in one State and as forward castes in another; children of those who are well placed in society, such as MLAs, MPs and bureaucrats, should be outside the purview of reservation; and those with a family income of Rs.1 lakh and above per annum should also be excluded. The same criteria should apply for reservation to SCs and STs too. Only then will the most backward benefit from the policy.

R.K. Thommandra,
Hyderabad

Of what use is reservation in higher education when opportunities to pursue quality education from the primary level are woefully lacking? The welfare of the economically weaker sections, irrespective of their caste, is the need of the hour. Unless the powers that be are prepared to identify this segment and ensure that they are afforded opportunities to study, we will remain the most populous under-developed nation.

C.S. Sukhavanam,
Coimbatore

Reservation is a social advantage. It should therefore be extended once in a lifetime — at the graduation/post-graduation level or at the entry point in government jobs. It should be restricted to one generation in the case of IAS officers, doctors, engineers, etc. If not used judiciously, reservation may lead to deep divisions in society.

Susamma Thomas,
Kollam, Kerala

Both the supporters and those who oppose reservation have valid points. It is true that the socially backward do not get enough exposure to coaching institutes. If it is given to them, they will also have access to the institutes of excellence. The solution, therefore, lies in providing equal opportunities in specialised coaching. But they should be extended only to the needy. Discrimination in favour of the affluent among OBCs will lead to the elimination of the most needy.

Nidhin John,
Thiruvananthapuram

Historically, there are large segments that have by and large remained outside the mainstream for various reasons. They continue to do so in spite of almost 60 years of affirmative action. There is no data on the effects of the reservation policy particularly with reference to whether the benefits have been felt across the board or have remained confined to a small group. This may be one of the reasons for the misgivings over the quota issue. The other fear seems to be a significant fall in the opportunities for the unreserved segment. The only viable immediate solution seems to be to increase the number of seats by 27 per cent.

N. Ananthakrishnan,
Pondicherry

Special coaching can be arranged for the backward class candidates before the entry point so that they are nearer the standards of the other entrants. The extent of reservation should be in limited doses and phases. And, the number of seats in the general category must be increased so that meritorious students are not affected.

M. Mandal,
Hyderabad

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