Reservations - a brilliant concept introduced by Dr. Ambedkar that made sure that the upper caste of India gave a better chance to the lower to get even with them. He however forgot to add a footnote that should have read.
"PS: Check back on this rule 25 years later with a committee or whatever you please that will determine how this system has faired. Scarp it once you think it has served its purpose. Basically, folks! plan an exit strategy for the reservation system."
Of course the addition of this footnote was overlooked and consequntially proved fatal and made a lot of Indians angry. For good reasons, may I add. You can tell its a sort of a screwed up system when two students can afford to have the same over-priced education but only one of them gets to go first because of his/her caste. We have got to understand that backward caste is NOT synonymous with poverty, not anymore.
Sibalji, don't you think its high time we took one long hard look at our reservation system and fixed it up. While the concept of reservations is actually pretty darn intelligent it needs its own set of checks that will keep the system healthy. So, I propose that (I'd like you to put your "idealist" hats right about now)
a) Reservation based on the caste system needs to plan its exit strategy. That is to say, the government will announce that in say five years time, reservations in education and government jobs will not be based on caste.
b) Reservations in education: Will be provided to students who can only afford to study in government schools. Someone who can not afford education at a private institution is the only deserving candidate for a reservation. This ratio should vary for students from rural/tribal government schools and urban.
First of all, this is not to say that our government schools suck. Have you seen government schools? They usually come with decent campuses and on rare occasions even decent teachers. The reasoning here is that they provide cheap education. Logic being, I'd prefer cheaper/free education if my family is below the poverty line. So most probably, I can't afford a costly education and therefore will be a good candidate for the state to give a nudge.
c) Reservations in job: is a pretty lame concept. Expecting the state to support you throughout your life time (remember that reservations play up for preference to backward castes during the time of promotions too) is a little too twisted. Enough reason to pronounce it not only useless but malignant.
The above is my opinion limited to reservations based on caste system and I won't go anywhere close to examining the rest of the reservations. Although, I would like to add that reservation for anyone should be an optional privilege. Try asking 'If you are eligible, would you like to be considered for a reservation?' in government application forms.
I hope the idealistic caps you put on before these points, helped you reach this point without raising an eyebrow or dismissing the idea with a pfff. In case you haven't... lets have a conversation! :)
Sibalji, don't you think its high time we took one long hard look at our reservation system and fixed it up. While the concept of reservations is actually pretty darn intelligent it needs its own set of checks that will keep the system healthy. So, I propose that (I'd like you to put your "idealist" hats right about now)
a) Reservation based on the caste system needs to plan its exit strategy. That is to say, the government will announce that in say five years time, reservations in education and government jobs will not be based on caste.
b) Reservations in education: Will be provided to students who can only afford to study in government schools. Someone who can not afford education at a private institution is the only deserving candidate for a reservation. This ratio should vary for students from rural/tribal government schools and urban.
First of all, this is not to say that our government schools suck. Have you seen government schools? They usually come with decent campuses and on rare occasions even decent teachers. The reasoning here is that they provide cheap education. Logic being, I'd prefer cheaper/free education if my family is below the poverty line. So most probably, I can't afford a costly education and therefore will be a good candidate for the state to give a nudge.
c) Reservations in job: is a pretty lame concept. Expecting the state to support you throughout your life time (remember that reservations play up for preference to backward castes during the time of promotions too) is a little too twisted. Enough reason to pronounce it not only useless but malignant.
The above is my opinion limited to reservations based on caste system and I won't go anywhere close to examining the rest of the reservations. Although, I would like to add that reservation for anyone should be an optional privilege. Try asking 'If you are eligible, would you like to be considered for a reservation?' in government application forms.
I hope the idealistic caps you put on before these points, helped you reach this point without raising an eyebrow or dismissing the idea with a pfff. In case you haven't... lets have a conversation! :)
No comments:
Post a Comment