Why Reservation?
- by Amit Agarwal
Be it IITs or IIMs or any other institute for that matter, reservations are a menace for the whole system. The proponents of reservations may have political or personal interests in the issue, but for the moment, let's not doubt their integrity, as they are also interested in providing benefits to a section of the society. But we must realize that this benefit must not come at the cost of another section of the same society.
The very basis of providing reservations is giving proportionate opportunities to the people of scheduled castes/tribes and other backward classes. If this is the case, then the current reservation policy is not doing justice with the other castes, which are left. One solution is to provide proportionate reservations to all the citizens. But this again has implementation issues.
Over the years, an argument of providing reservations based on economic considerations rather than on the social has gained voice. Opponents of this theory talk about fraudulent certificates being issued with respect to economic status of a candidate. They, however, fail to realize that the same can happen with the caste based reservations also. Moreover, another problem in the same is that the economic position of an individual keeps on varying over the years, and hence again the implementation issues arise.
In order to search for a feasible solution, first of all the decision-makers have to raise themselves above the political boundaries. They must realize that it is a social issue and not a political one. If they are truly interested in providing benefits and solace to all the sections of the society, then they must resort to a win-win situation for all.
Today, the economics of the country seems satisfactory. We have done substantially well over the years in many aspects, be it sustaining a consistent growth rate, controlling inflation, rapidly increasing foreign investments, or the booming stock markets. All this has been achieved and the credit goes to globalization and the opened economy. To carry on the good work, we need to rely on the professionals and the young lads who are in the process of transformation in the educational system.
Any organization would like to source talent which can prove to be an asset for it. It is the premier institutes like IITs and IIMs, which have upheld the tradition of providing the country with the same. It is the stringent admission procedure and a very tough competition which sets these institutions apart from others. Providing reservations is similar to eroding quality which is hazardous not only for the institutes but also for the evolving corporate culture and professional practices.
Only competent individuals who have proven themselves by means of clearing all the acid tests must be allowed to enter institutions of such high repute.
Still the question of providing benefits to the underprivileged scheduled castes/tribes, etc. remains. This benefit can be extended to them at a very initial level. Firstly, a creamy layer has to be removed as it is done in the case of OBCs. Rest of them can be provided education free of cost up to the level they want to study, in all the government institutions. In all other private institutions, government must keep a provision of subsidy of 50% as government's contribution and 25% from the institution's side. Secondly, all the coaching institutes must provide free education to the SC/ST, OBC candidates, provided the maximum number of reserved students in this regard can be equal to the number of general category of students they have.
The above solution is very much feasible and can be implemented with ease. What this solution will do is, provide all the students with the same level of facilities at the time of entering a professional institute. Let them all compete on a level playing field and then let the best out of them come out and serve the nation by being a true corporate citizen.
- by Amit Agarwal
Be it IITs or IIMs or any other institute for that matter, reservations are a menace for the whole system. The proponents of reservations may have political or personal interests in the issue, but for the moment, let's not doubt their integrity, as they are also interested in providing benefits to a section of the society. But we must realize that this benefit must not come at the cost of another section of the same society.
The very basis of providing reservations is giving proportionate opportunities to the people of scheduled castes/tribes and other backward classes. If this is the case, then the current reservation policy is not doing justice with the other castes, which are left. One solution is to provide proportionate reservations to all the citizens. But this again has implementation issues.
Over the years, an argument of providing reservations based on economic considerations rather than on the social has gained voice. Opponents of this theory talk about fraudulent certificates being issued with respect to economic status of a candidate. They, however, fail to realize that the same can happen with the caste based reservations also. Moreover, another problem in the same is that the economic position of an individual keeps on varying over the years, and hence again the implementation issues arise.
In order to search for a feasible solution, first of all the decision-makers have to raise themselves above the political boundaries. They must realize that it is a social issue and not a political one. If they are truly interested in providing benefits and solace to all the sections of the society, then they must resort to a win-win situation for all.
Today, the economics of the country seems satisfactory. We have done substantially well over the years in many aspects, be it sustaining a consistent growth rate, controlling inflation, rapidly increasing foreign investments, or the booming stock markets. All this has been achieved and the credit goes to globalization and the opened economy. To carry on the good work, we need to rely on the professionals and the young lads who are in the process of transformation in the educational system.
Any organization would like to source talent which can prove to be an asset for it. It is the premier institutes like IITs and IIMs, which have upheld the tradition of providing the country with the same. It is the stringent admission procedure and a very tough competition which sets these institutions apart from others. Providing reservations is similar to eroding quality which is hazardous not only for the institutes but also for the evolving corporate culture and professional practices.
Only competent individuals who have proven themselves by means of clearing all the acid tests must be allowed to enter institutions of such high repute.
Still the question of providing benefits to the underprivileged scheduled castes/tribes, etc. remains. This benefit can be extended to them at a very initial level. Firstly, a creamy layer has to be removed as it is done in the case of OBCs. Rest of them can be provided education free of cost up to the level they want to study, in all the government institutions. In all other private institutions, government must keep a provision of subsidy of 50% as government's contribution and 25% from the institution's side. Secondly, all the coaching institutes must provide free education to the SC/ST, OBC candidates, provided the maximum number of reserved students in this regard can be equal to the number of general category of students they have.
The above solution is very much feasible and can be implemented with ease. What this solution will do is, provide all the students with the same level of facilities at the time of entering a professional institute. Let them all compete on a level playing field and then let the best out of them come out and serve the nation by being a true corporate citizen.
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