The Hindu : National : Drop the very idea of creamy layer, says PMK leader

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Drop the very idea of creamy layer, says PMK leader

J. Venkatesan

PM promises to take appropriate action
Plea for reservation in private sector

New Delhi: Pattali Makkal Katchi founder-leader S. Ramadoss on Saturday called for implementing the 27 per cent reservation for the Other Backward Classes without excluding the creamy layer in Central higher education institutions.

Talking to reporters here, he said he had on Friday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and congratulated them on bringing about the 27 per cent quota. His party, which is a constituent of the UPA government, wanted it to take action to drop the very idea of creamy layer from the purview of the reservation policy.

When it was pointed out that the Supreme Court judgment would have to be implemented, he said the PMK would press for bringing in a Constitution amendment so as not to exclude the creamy layer and to insert this law in Schedule IX for putting it beyond judicial review.

“Not effective”

He said the 27 per cent reservation in jobs for the OBCs was not effective because of the creamy layer concept. The number of OBC employees in Central government jobs had actually declined and this should not be allowed to happen in education also.

Asked about the Prime Minister’s reaction, Dr. Ramadoss said Dr. Singh assured him that for 2008-2009 the government would implement 27 per cent reservation as directed by the court and appropriate action would be taken to deal with the concept of creamy layer after reviewing the policy this year.

The PMK agreed with the government’s suggestion. For, already one year was lost and the party did not want one more year wasted without OBC reservation in elite educational institutions.

Social obligation

On reservation in the private sector, the Prime Minister told Dr. Ramadoss that he had taken action and would again speak to the corporate sector to impress on it its social obligation to provide employment to weaker sections.

Dr. Ramadoss said he had also brought to Dr. Singh’s notice the genocide of innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka.

“The Prime Minister sympathised with the plight of the Tamils and said the government would take all measures to restore peace and tranquillity in Sri Lanka. India would not supply to Sri Lanka any arms and weapons which would be offensive in nature.”

Dr. Ramadoss said he had impressed on Ms. Gandhi the need for providing 33 per cent reservation to women and she said she was trying to evolve consensus on the Women’s Reservation Bill.

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