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IITs ready to implement quota from the next academic session

Special Correspondent

9 % quota each year as per Veerappa Moily panel roadmap

Arjun Singh

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) will implement the first phase of reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) from the 2007-08 academic session.

The Directors of the IITs made this clear to the Union Human Resource Minister Arjun Singh at a meeting in his office here on Monday.

The institutes are to implement nine per cent reservation each year as per the roadmap drawn by the Veerappa Moily committee in the next three academic sessions. "In the first year (2007-08) there seems to be no difficulty in implementing but they have some requirements for the next two years which will be addressed," Mr. Singh told reporters after the meeting. The difficulties pertained to space, building and additional staff.

According to Mr. Sing,the meeting had been called to discuss reservation to OBCs in aided institutions of higher learning and to discuss the existing backlog in Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes recruitment in these institutions. He said there had been a communication from the Prime Minister on clearing of the SC/ST backlog in the academic and non-academic staff in the institutes of higher learning that needs to be filled as soon as possible.

"As far as the SCs are concerned there is no difficulty in filling the posts but there are not enough ST candidates available in some States, for which we need to take on a conscious programme until the backlog ceases," he said.

"Fair share" to Muslims

Asked how the Ministry would give a "fair share" to Muslims as suggested by the Prime Minister, Mr. Singh said some initiatives had already been taken and these would lead to a fair degree of opportunity. He said Muslims comprised a sizeable population of the Other Backward Classes and would be covered under reservation.

He said efforts should be made to make higher education accessible to minorities, adding that minorities themselves were wanting to set up institutes of higher learning for which they faced some problems earlier including that of recognition.

"We have a law in place to facilitate setting up of institutions run by minorities and the National Commission on Minority Educational Institutions has already started granting recognition and permission for institutes of higher learning by minorities," he said.

On the possibility of having separate schools Muslims following the Rajinder Sachar committee report, the Minister said no education could be separated but only accelerated by providing opportunities.

Education has to be accelerated and the focus will be to provide facilities and access in the areas where SCs, STs, OBCs and minority population is high, he said.

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