RESERVED MINDSET

The recent supreme court judgment upholding 27% reservation for OBC in educational institute is being largely debated in media. No matter what we say, it is a reality that society in India is a caste based society where people from certain castes have been targeted for inhuman treatment for centuries. When constituent assembly took a decision regarding reservation it was based on certain facts and we should respect it. Just because it has been there for last 60 years doesn’t mean that it has served its purpose and now we can do without it. Ground reality still remains true that so many people still not only are underprivileged but also face caste based discrimination.

For those who oppose reservation, I want to ask only one question. Do they oppose 33% reservation for women in parliament. Let me answer for them, they support it wholeheartedly. Because it makes them feel that they are socially responsible. They forget that the basis for both reservation is same i.e centuries long discrimination and present vulnerable situation. Then why is there such a difference of opinion. People talk about institutes like IIM will be ruined by reservation. I m sorry but I regard parliament as the highest institute in this country and if it can stand reservation why can’t IIMs.
Another argument given by opposition to reservation to is that why doesn’t govt. target primary education. Yes, it may that because they don’t have a vote so politicians don’t care for them. I want to ask a different question. Even if there is reservation in schools, it will be in govt. schools. How do people see a child educated in a govt. school competing with a general category student who has done his schooling from schools like DPS, MODEL SCHOOL and other private schools. Ultimately he will still require reservation at higher education level.

As far as merit is concerned, how many of us really believe that we have a merit based, just system of education without caste based reservation. Education in India today is a money making industry. If you have money you can get admission pretty much in nay course in any college. Why does nobody talks about seats for NRIs where merit is of least consideration. Cut off for general category in IIM-A is 99percentile,whereas it is 95 for SCs and 97 for OBCs. Now that’s not a big difference.
A country like America has applied its affirmative action policy to even private sector. What exactly do we want to preserve in India that Americans have missed out on. South Africa has quota system in sports and they are one of the best sporting nations in the world.

I don’t support quota in private sector or in sports. But let’s not humiliate our leaders who while formulating our constitution had a vision. Why not take a pledge to eradicate caste based discrimination and help those in need rather then going out in streets disrupting public life and spreading hatred. Supreme court has rightly asked the govt. to define creamy layer properly and make sure that the benefit reaches to those in real need. The duty of govt. is simply to ensure that nobody gets to have the benefits of reservation if they don’t deserve it. It is very simple, at the time of admission itself every university asks for salary certificate and it can be easily made out from a salary certificate whether somebody deserves reservation or not. Also if there are any vacant seats after normal procedure they should be filled with students who missed out due to lack of money.