The Hindu : Kerala News : Centre committed to OBC quota, says Vayalar Ravi

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Sunday, Apr 01, 2007
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Centre committed to OBC quota, says Vayalar Ravi

Special Correspondent

`Reservation will lead to cohesion in society'

Thiruvananthapuram: Union Minister for Indian Overseas Affairs Vayalar Ravi on Saturday asserted that the United Progressive Alliance(UPA) Government would stand by its commitment to the 27 per cent reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in IITs and IIMs and would take the appropriate steps within the purview of the law to overcome the recent Supreme Court stay.

Addressing presspersons, Mr. Ravi said the Prime Minister himself had announced soon after the decision on the reservation that the Centre would come up with a compromise formula to make good the seats lost owing to the reservation envisaging an investment of Rs.1,300 crore.

On the Supreme Court observation that reservation would lead to a division in the community, Mr. Ravi said: "I respectfully disagree with the observation of the court." Reservation would in fact lead to cohesion in society. It had the sanction of the Constitution and the Supreme Court that had directed that reservation should not exceed 50 per cent. He said the entire issue regarding reservation, including political reservation in Parliament and Assembly had been debated and settled through the Poona pact between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Reservations had been able to ensure social justice and equality. The South Indian States had taken the lead in this direction leading to social, educational and economic progress of the backward classes, he said recalling the contributions of the Maharaja of Travancore.

Mr. Ravi said India would sign an agreement with Kuwait on April 8 on labour contract that would go a long way in protecting the interests of Indian labour force. After his Kuwait mission, Mr. Ravi would visit Doha and Saudi Arabia for discussions on the labour contract. He said the agreement would ensure that the labour contract listed out the terms and conditions of service of employees. Salary would be paid through the bank, and the employee would enjoy medical insurance coverage provided by the sponsor. The workers would be provided with a smart card that would have all details about them.

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