[FSUG-Bangalore] On Reservation in Educational Institutions

[Vikram Vincent]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Vikram Vincent <vincentvikram at gmail.com>
Date: 17-May-2006 21:32
Subject: On Reservation in Educational Institutions
To: bangalore_alive <bangalore_alive at googlegroups.com>

*On Reservation in Educational Institutions*

*1.  The Constitutional provision of reservation for socially and
economically backward classes is meant to provide access to education and
jobs for the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes.
*

*This provision for reservation  is a partial acknowledgement of the
inequities
of the caste system and the discrimination and deprivation that it entailed
for  centuries in Indian society.  *

*It is viewed that such reservation is a limited step to provide
opportunities for the dalits, adivasis and other  backward classes to
acquire education and jobs.  At the same time, it has to be stressed that
there can be no emancipation without basic land reforms and changes in the
socio-economic system which breed  exploitation and inequality. *

*2. Extension for OBC reservation to education is based on the same  principle
as its application to jobs.  We have to support reservation in higher
educational institutions for SC, ST and OBC. The state governments are to
decide the quantum of reservation in the institutions run by them.  In
higher education, since there is a scarcity of seats, especially in
professional institutions, reservation should be accompanied by a
commensurate increase in the  number of seats in the institutions  run or
aided by the Central government. *

*According to the UGC Chairman, there was provision for an increase of 10
per cent annually in the seats in colleges for which financial allocations
have been made in the tenth five year plan. *

*3.  While we should be for reservation, it is maintained that distinct from
the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, there is differentiation among
the other backward classes.  Reservation should benefit the poorer and needy
sections among these communities.  For this, there has to be a
socio-economic criteria which excludes the affluent and those already having
access to jobs and higher education.  This came to be known as exclusion of
the "Creamy Layer" based on the Supreme Court judgement on the
implementation of the Mandal  Commission report.  *

*4.  While expanding the seats in educational institutions, students coming
from weak  and poorer background and who do not come in the reservation
categories should also be provided for through a separate allocation of
seats.  *

*5.  The government  of India should prepare a proposal which should be put
for a public debate, so that the widest agreement is reached before it is
taken up for implementation. *
*6.  Alongwith this, the government should immediately prepare a legislation
for  regulating all private higher educational  institutions. The
legislation should enable  state governments to regulate admission and fees
in all private higher educational institutions which are aided or unaided.  The
crass commercialisation of higher education  has closed the doors for a
large number of deserving students irrespective of their background and even
when they have the necessary qualifications and merit.  Social control of
the burgeoning "educational industry" is an urgent necessity.
*
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