Is increasing the number of seats the solution to OBC Quota
The recently proposed reservation policy of the Ministry of Human Resource Development aimed at increasing the number of reserved seats in Central Universities to about 49.5% by effectuating the quota of 27% for the Other Backward Classes, has created a lot of fresh stir in the country after the Mandal Commission's similar demand for the SC's and the ST's, way back in 1989-91.
The above policy, in spite of securing majority of consents in the parliament, has fetched a nation-wide resentment from the students of the so-called upper-castes. The resentment took the form of the formation of a special 'Youth for Equality' Forum comprising the agitated students of the Central Universities (primarily) and those of the IIM's and other significant Medical Colleges all across the country. Even the professionals and students from other fields as diverse as arts joined in this much hyped resentment. The movement against the policy kicked off with the basic idea that MERIT cannot be compromised in the name of reservation, and ironically ended with the agreement of the policy, provided affirmative action was taken by the government to improve the conditions of the OBC's. Hence, one can clearly pick up the futileness of the movement which couldn't justify it's own emergence or maintainence and simply gave in to the order of the Supreme court to end it at the earliest. This movement at every step was unsure about its aims and was utterly confused on its demands. Although, apparently it might have looked as a very strong force to overthrow the Government's policy on Reservation.
One of the Government's tactics to woo the students was to promise them to increase the Number of seats in the Universities so that every deserving candidate could fetch one for himself/herself. But the question is : Is it exactly as much feasible to increase the number of seats as stated by the Government? And even if it is feasible, will it finally make room for the General Category Candidates? Because there will be increase in the number of seats, but no reduction in the number of the percentage of the reserved seats, i.e 49.5%, thus leaving no space for anybody to differ at the point that the reserved seats quota will eventually remain to be fixed, i.e. the proposed 49.5%.
Moreover, the much valid point raised by some of the students was that this policy might exaggerate the caste differences and in turn prepare India to undergo some other few fierce Communalist battles and might pose as a threat to the country's secular characteristic. With the increase in the number of seats, as we have analyzed above, the situation seems to change no more than that visualized by some of the wise students and India will eventually have all the more danger of Communalist battles.
A point much pondered personally by me is that, if there comes into force the increase in the number of seats and also the execution of the said reservation policy, then even the minority communities will raise such demands and will, in my opinion, be very much justified to do so as well. Then, would our kind Ministry of HRD develop policies to promote their reservations as well? And imagine, if this really comes into force, then what will be the plight of the General Category Candidates?
Finally, I would like to throw some light on the proposed and much advocated solutions of this so- called erring policy. A few of the country's learned lot prescribes the government to follow the Affirmative Action apparently, on the same lines as it is being practiced in the U.S. Here, they have suggested the government to check the roots of Caste divisions by providing the best possible educational opportunities to the children in the remotest of areas. But little have they cared to ponder on the fact that such remote areas are a lot in number in our developing nation and that it will take immense time for such so-called best educational alternatives to reach them keeping into mind the snail- speed of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan's success. Also, after all why are people of the Backward or the Other Backward Classes called so? Because they are backward when it comes to the access of the best of opportunities, the access to the basic amenities of life, the access to a proper primary school, or event the access to the functional Public Health Centre and a lot of innumerable difficulties and problems, which the persons sitting in AC's and going to Coaching Classes right from the Primary School are inept to judge or perhaps to realize. Don't we have the ability to understand that all this cannot be brought to them in just one single day or even over a period of a few years? There are communities or even villages, which are backward since AGES.
Therefore, increasing the number of seats can never be a possible solution to OBC quota as it is understood that this is clearly another gimmick of the Government to please both the two categories( the OBC's as well as the General Category) of the said people in question. Even if the Government plans to increase the number of seats, there is no declaration by the same that the quota proposal will be withdrawn. And it's very clear that the quota execution is bound to be biased, giving in nearly 50% of the seats as reservations.
I would love to conclude by making it very clear that in a country like ours where mutual interests are overclouded by personal interests, there remains little point to give one's opinion as it is well understood that people here are prepared to only accept those words as stimuli(either verbal or visual) that appeal to them or have the potential of fulfilling their interests in any way possible.
References:
1) Competition Success Review Magazine, Issue June 2006
2) Frontline Magazine, Issue June 2006
3) The Times of India Newspaper.
- Neeti Srivastava
