You ask if access to prestigious gard & post-grad institutes is "merely a question of access to resources." Obviously, it is not merely; the question to ask is "if it is significantly influenced by access to resources."
And surely, we do see more rich and middle class kids than poor ones. Please check how many students in IIMs and IITs ask for subsidies. The stats are available with most instis.
Now compare the income profile in the IITs/IIMs with the country's profile. Do you see a difference?
Thus, I think the stats do establish that there is indeed a correlation b/w family income & access. Clearly, this is not the only factor, nor does it establish causality. (Such stats tests do not.) There may be connexions using other variables such as access to primary and secondary education, access to coaching, etc.. but those are hypotheses, to be validated.
i agree with the writer caste has no relevance now a days. but it is political game used by different groups. if there should be reservstion it should be on the basis of finacial status of the family. another factor is once the person got reservation further reservation in the family shall not be given. once the person gets an oppotunity he wants the same for his children while those who really are needy they suffer. most important factor is either give reservation at one stage may be at school level or college level or in job. But what here happeninmg is same person get the reservation benefit at school level collage lvel then at university level and at the same time for seeking the job then too in the promotion which is hazardous to those who are really hard working. in the matter of reservation there are so many upper caste people who are not economically sound but have no access to reservation becaue dont fall under caste. so economic criteris shaouls be the strict criteria for reservation. similarly evaluation should be strict when people should select out for the benefit. that should be the responsibility of the agency to set the strict norms to set the categories.
Great Article. Great Insight. I happen to be born in the so-called upper caste or as they say in TN -- one of the other castes. But I wish my SC/ST?OBC brothers and sisters would read this article too and understand that they need to be accomodative of at least the poor among the so calle dforward castes or other castes. Once again thanks a lot for sucha wonderful article.
The artical on above mentioned subject was good but it is not realistic. the fact remains that upper cast people dont want the people from lower cast to come up and become cearm of society. brahmins have enjoyed 1000s of years, 100% RESEARVATION and now they got scared with 50years of reservation to dalits. fact is this 50 years of reservation is also not implemented honestly. many time even if there are many seats to fill post candidates are not taken & reports are given that there is no application. today also in many temples in ayodhya dalits are not allowed to entre. at many place dalits are not allowed to build pakka house or tie turban or even ride bycicle. recenty 5 dalits were killed because the were takig skin of dead cow. and VHP & sangh parivar suppored the killing in hariyana. A sankracharya killed a human and same VHP & sangh parivar came in suport of him. how you axpect justis from this people. today entier media are comtrolled by upper cast people so they are not going to show reality but they will show only thing that benifits them. the RESERVATION should be forced with strong law then only justice will come to dalits. Be honest & help dalits with heart not words.
Rashmi, You have correctly pointed out lack of scientific analysis for reservation policy. No political party is ready to talk about recent data and planning of future reservation policies on the basis of last 60 years experience, present status and systmatic plan in achiveing future objective. Most of the people of India is not against reservation policy, but root cause of anger against reservation policy is because of wrong and unscientific implementaion of policy. Brainstorming debate by all types of media, economist, sociologist will lead politicians to give attention to this aspect.Establishing forum for bringing such issues forward will definately help.
Your critical analysis is very good. Wish you best. Umesh Sangmwar (umeshsangamwar@yahoo.com)
Looks like economist in Manmohan Singh gone to bed. He want to become a full time politician. The man I chersihed once as a symbol of India's development is fast turning out to be a curse.
I can foregive people like VP Singh being just another politician does not bother much about the unity of India when they have to churn their bread butter through reservation systems. But someone like Manmohan Singh turn out advocating such political slogans is really a sad state of affairs.
I can just hope finally a better sense prevail in the man called Manmohan. Remember I am not talking of Congress as a party advocating same, because that will be a useless exercise. Only an individual can make the difference here. Expecting from a corrupt political party is like expecting from a camel to pass through a needle.
BJP has done well in taking an anti-reservation stance. All parties need to get to BJP's level in keeping the national interest in mind. Congress has become a party of morons.
Reservations based on caste or religion in schools / colledges or Government jobs is a flawed concept . If we really want to do somting for the backward class there should be reservations based on the econmic background of the person.
In the current system the upwardly mobile and the well to do OBS and SC/STs are the major benificieres.
If we want a better India why keep this caste system alive and thriving by introducing reservations. There should be reservations only for the poor and those who are not economcaly strong.
It is in the intrest of the politicians to keep this system alive to get vote and it is due to their short sightedness that a law system which was supposed to go out 40 years ago is still in place and has been modified to include all types of people.
MY Vies being get rid of he resirvations based on case and class . Get reservations and scolarships for the poor and the backward regions to enpower them.
This would go a long way in building a better INDIA.
Any reservation policy, by any country is just an affirmative action to provide a fair access to the discriminated.
In Malayasia, they reserved large tracts of land for the Malays, Jews have been given compensation. In our country, Mahars in Maharashtra, who were considered untouchables, were given entire regiment in the army, Mahar Regiment, and they have produced best of heroes for Indian Army, whose war cry is "BOLO HINDUSTAN KI JAY". This regiment is truly an honor to Mahars of Maharashtra. Mahar Regiment is pride of India, who has won till date, 1 Param Vir Chakra, 4 Maha Vir Chakra, 29 Vir Chakra, 1 Kirti Chakra, 12 Shaurya Chakra, 22 Vishisht Seva Medals and 63 Sena Medals.
We are all Indians, We must ensure that we are united in sharing the prosperity, like we are united against a common enemy across the border. Indian Hindu or Indian Muslim or Indian Dalit or Indian Brahmin does not help the enemy during the time of war. then why do we oppose when our government wants to eradicate the evil discrimination from the society. If every Indian gets proper education, we will never require reservations as every one of them will have equal chance, but that will take two or three
