Mandal Revisited : Reservation based on caste strikes again

[V Reddy]

It would be interesting to know the opinions of the Cricketwebbers on this issue which has sparked nation wide protests from the students and is continuing to grow momentum day by day.

Personally at a time when a review was to be done to reduce the reservations, our Old man Arjun Singh comes on with a proposal to increase it from 22.5 to a whopping 49.5 % .

The Youth For Equality is continuing to add more members by the day

http://youthforequality.blogspot.com/

[Cloete]

Originally Posted by V Reddy

It would be interesting to know the opinions of the Cricketwebbers on this issue which has sparked nation wide protests from the students and is continuing to grow momentum day by day.

Personally at a time when a review was to be done to reduce the reservations, our Old man Arjun Singh comes on with a proposal to increase it from 22.5 to a whopping 49.5 % .

The Youth For Equality is continuing to add more members by the day

http://youthforequality.blogspot.com/

All for the better IMO.

Sriram, get involved!

[luckyeddie]

Is this a 'positive discrimination' thing?

[Sanz]

Once again an attempt to divide the nation by our politicians. They have to take steps to make sure our economy goes back to 1970 ways and undo all the good things that have been done in last 15 years.

[Anil]

just an attempt to get the so-called lower-caste vote banks that's all...in the name of mitigating caste inequalities, they are keeping the caste system and caste differences very much alive....

[luckyeddie]

When I was a kid and I first heard about the 'untouchables', I had visions of Eliot Ness trying to catch Al Capone.

[Sanz]

Eddie, it is little different. Untouchability is illegal in India. Caste system doesn't equate to untouchability either.

[Anil]

untouchability is a direct result of the caste system, it's the shudras or the lowest castes who are usually classed as the untouchables....and although it is illegal, it is still practised in rural areas of india....

[V Reddy]

For the benefit of people who don't have much idea about this

This gives info on the first instance of this Mandal Commision was started
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandal_Commission

Follow this article for more info on the latest act for reservation

http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/may/19sb.htm

Also go through the sublinks located there "Quota: A cure worse than the disease", "What the 49.5% quota is all about", etc,.

[Sudeep]

49.5% is just ridiculous. The day is not far when there will be reservations for regular castes. Nearly 50% of undergraduates look to other countries to obtain higher education. With this, it's only going to double or even triple.

[V Reddy]

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/pvt-sect...e/11099-3.html

India Inc has 2 yrs for quota: Centre

The Centre now has a new target.

In a move that will just serve to intensify the Centre's stand on increasing quota for backward classes, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Meira Kumar has said that the private sector will be given two years to introduce reservations voluntarily.


Kumar has said that if the private sector does not do the same within the set time limit, then the Government will be forced to bring in a law to that effect.

"We will first see what is their voluntary action, but if it fails, the Government will have to look at other options including making it legal," Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said in an interview to CNN-IBN.

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/decision...d/11063-4.html

Interview on CNN India

Karan Thapar: In which case, lets ask a few basic questions; we are talking about the reservations for the OBCs in particular. Do you know what percentage of the Indian population is OBC? Mandal puts it at 52 per cent, the National Sample Survey Organisation at 32 per cent, the National Family and Health Survey at 29.8 per cent, which is the correct figure?


Arjun Singh: I think that should be decided by people who are more knowledgeable. But the point is that the OBCs form a fairly sizeable percentage of our population.


Karan Thapar: No doubt, but the reason why it is important to know 'what percentage' they form is that if you are going to have reservations for them, then you must know what percentage of the population they are, otherwise you don't know whether they are already adequately catered in higher educational institutions or not.


Arjun Singh: That is obvious - they are not.


Karan Thapar: Why is it obvious?


Arjun Singh: Obvious because it is something which we all see.


Karan Thapar: Except for the fact that the NSSO, which is a government appointed body, has actually in its research in 1999 - which is the most latest research shown - that 23.5 per cent of all university seats are already with the OBCs. And that is just 8.5 per cent less than what the NSSO believes is the OBC share of the population. So, for a difference of 8 per cent, would reservations be the right way of making up the difference?


Arjun Singh: I wouldn't like to go behind all this because, as I said, Parliament has taken a view and it has taken a decision, I am a servant of Parliament and I will only implement.


Karan Thapar: Absolutely, Parliament has taken a view, I grant it. But what people question is the simple fact - Is there a need for reservations? If you don't know what percentage of the country is OBC, and if furthermore, the NSSO is correct in pointing out that already 23.5 per cent of the college seats are with the OBC, then you don't have a case in terms of need.


Arjun Singh: College seats, I don't know.


Karan Thapar: According to the NSSO - which is a government appointed body - 23.5 per cent of the college seats are already with the OBCs.


Arjun Singh: What do you mean by college seats?


Karan Thapar: University seats, seats of higher education.


Arjun Singh: Well, I don't know I have not come across that far.




Karan Thapar: So, when critics say to you that you don't have a case for reservation in terms of need, what do you say to them?


Arjun Singh: I have said what I had to say and the point is that that is not an issue for us to now debate.


Karan Thapar: You mean the chapter is now closed?


Arjun Singh: The decision has been taken.


Karan Thapar: Regardless of whether there is a need or not, the decision is taken and it is a closed chapter.


Arjun Singh: So far as I can see, it is a closed chapter and that is why I have to implement what all Parliament has said.


Karan Thapar: Minister, it is not just in terms of 'need' that your critics question the decision to have reservation for OBCs in higher education. More importantly, they question whether reservations themselves are efficacious and can work.


For example, a study done by the IITs themselves shows that 50 per cent of the IIT seats for the SCs and STs remain vacant and for the remaining 50 per cent, 25 per cent are the candidates, who even after six years fail to get their degrees. So, clearly, in their case, reservations are not working.


Arjun Singh: I would only say that on this issue, it would not be correct to go by all these figures that have been paraded.


Karan Thapar: You mean the IIT figures themselves could be dubious?


Arjun Singh: Not dubious, but I think that is not the last word.

Karan Thapar: For seven weeks, they have been protesting in the hot sun. No minister has gone there to appease them, to alley their concerns, to express sympathy for them. Have politicians let the young people of India down?


Arjun Singh: Well, I myself called them. They all came in this very room.

Karan Thapar: But you are the only one.


Arjun Singh: You are accusing me only. No one else is being accused.


Karan Thapar: What about the Government of India? Has the Government of India failed to respond adequately?


Arjun Singh: From the Government of India also, the Defence Minister met them.


Karan Thapar: Only recently.


Arjun Singh: That is something because everyone was busy with the elections.


Karan Thapar: For seven weeks no one met them.


Arjun Singh: No, but we are very concerned. Certainly, all of us resent the kind of force that was used. I condemned it the very first day it happened

A real must read of an interview

[Anil]

vish, it's a clear example of political bullcrap spouted by an experienced politician....he never answers to the point, evades issues and just keeps on parroting his party's stance....typical interview....it would actually sound funny(yes minister style) if we don't realize how these *******s manipulate and destroy so many young and promising lives for their cheap, political ends....

[Sanz]

Typical politician, never give a direct answer. At times like these I feel fortunate that my kids are american citizens.