The Hindu : Opinion / Interviews : "We are trying to build an inclusive society"

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Saturday, Jun 17, 2006

Opinion

Opinion - Interviews

"We are trying to build an inclusive society"

Anita Joshua

M. Veerappa Moily, chairman of the Oversight Committee for implementation of 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in central educational institutions, discusses the tasks before him. Excerpts from an interview in New Delhi:

Veerappa Moily: "Education is a great weapon in the hands of the people. It is the key to prosperity." — Photo: V. Sudershan

There is confusion over the mandate of the Oversight Committee, particularly vis-à-vis State Universities and private colleges. The initial impression was that the Committee will monitor implementation of 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in central educational institutions only. So what is your mandate?

The reference to our Committee is implementation of 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in institutes of higher learning which covers everything: Institutions coming under the Central Act, institutions coming under the State Acts, including private and deemed. Our second mandate is to assess additional infrastructure and other requirements for increasing the overall availability of seats to a level so that the present number of seats available to the general category students does not decline. To enable us to get inputs on infrastructure and faculty requirements, five sub-committees have been appointed. Even the terms of reference for these sub-committees have been prescribed by the Government. The idea is to have expansion, inclusion, and excellence. And, to utilise this opportunity to build a knowledge society. We are trying to build an inclusive society; the idea is not to exclude anybody but include everybody.

Did you at any point suggest that OBC reservation should be staggered and introduced only in the Indian Institutes of Technology, the Indian Institutes of Management, and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 2007-08?

No. Our mandate is very clear on this. OBC reservation will have to be introduced in all central educational institutions from the next academic year and intake will also have to increase accordingly ... there is no confusion on this. It is because time is at a premium that we have asked the five sub-groups to give us inputs for submitting an interim report to the Government by July 10 to take advance action by way of financial sanctions, administrative sanctions, faculty increase.

Time is running out. We have to work on a war footing. At the same time we cannot sacrifice the merit environment in these institutions. We have a big task. As of today, it may look quite difficult and impossible. It is not a question of whether it is possible to implement it by next year or not. We have to make it possible.

Does the Oversight Committee have the mandate to decide for State Universities since education is a State subject?

Yes, that is the mandate of the 93rd Constitution Amendment. Agreed, States have to bring out their own laws as per the 93rd Amendment but we can work out the packages, give suggestions ... Of course, the ultimate decision will be theirs.

Did you ask the Human Resource Development Ministry to finalise the enabling legislation to operationalise the 93rd Amendment in Central educational institutions only after consultations with the Oversight Committee?

The Bill is the prerogative of the Government and Parliament. It is not part of the mandate of the Committee. The inputs of the Committee may be useful for the implementation of the Bill. The Committee has not asked for a copy of the draft legislation as is being made out.

Has it been referred to you?

No.

There are reports of differences within the Committee.

It is only a media creation. All decisions will be taken unanimously.

There is an impression that the Oversight Committee is exceeding its mandate.

Unnecessary confusion is being created. Our mandate is very clear. The only thing I have added is using this increase in funding to build a knowledge society through this process. After all, only eight per cent of Indians have access to tertiary education while it is about 25 per cent in developing countries. And, in advanced countries the access rate is in the vicinity of 85 per cent. China has an access rate of 65 to 70 per cent. How can we build a knowledge society with such low enrolment? If you don't build a knowledge society, how do you realise the Indian dream to become a superpower?

So, let us make the best of this opportunity where we have a reform-minded Prime Minister and a social justice champion like Arjun Singh. With all of them there, this is the best environment to build a knowledge society. But, it has to be inclusive, not excluding any section of society.

You have been talking consistently about a knowledge society. But, the Knowledge Commission set up by the Prime Minister to build a knowledge society is against extending reservation to any section of society in its present form.

That may be so, but we are of the view that the increase in spending on higher education to provide OBC reservation without affecting the general category can be used to build a knowledge society. However, a knowledge society cannot be built by excluding a large section of the people. They will have to be empowered. They will have to get an entry to institutions of higher learning. We spend only 0.37 per cent of the GDP on higher education. With the money that will be made available to provide OBC reservation, we can definitely work towards a knowledge society. We are using this as a window of opportunity for generating a large pool of technical and professional manpower. Today, only a couple of our institutions enjoy a brand equity. The idea is to increase their number.

There is a fear that increase in intake will dilute the quality of education.

Why do you forget that Nalanda and Taxila universities used to have 10,000 to 15,000 students on one campus? Why are we shying away from increasing intake? [The] Massachusetts Institute of Technology has 5,000 students on one campus. We do not have so many students in all our Indian Institutes of Technology put together.

You have been talking about innovative measures. What are they?

Many options are under consideration including changing the student-teacher ratio. We have a traditional approach. Our mindsets are blocked. Unless you put the premier institutions on the fast track of accelerated development, it will take us another 100 years to come up to the level of even developing countries. Our target was to increase enrolment in higher education to 10 per cent in the Tenth Five Year Plan but we are at eight per cent.

Faculty shortage is a big concern.

We want to get over these apprehensions. Faculty shortage is because pay packages are not attractive. We must have a new look at all these issues.

Does this mean teacher salaries may go up?

Possibly. Education should be given top priority. Poverty can be eradicated by providing education, which is a great weapon in the hands of the people. Education is the key to prosperity.

The creamy layer issue: Will you be looking into it?

That is an issue relating to the policy of the Government. [The] Oversight Committee does not have a mandate to look into it. At best, we may fine-tune the policy of the Government to make it acceptable to the people.

Though you maintain that the task ahead is possible, you concede that it is onerous. What are the greatest hurdles?

Mindset. We refuse to think out of the box. Revolutionary thinking will have to be introduced. Nothing is impossible in these days of technology. Once the mindset is liberated, we will be on our way.

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"We are trying to build an inclusive society"