Reserved anyway!
The government of India has decided to go ahead with the reservations in higher educational institutes. The fact that such a large section of the country – especially the youth – is against the move does not seem to perturb Arjun Singh at all. The action reeks of an autocratic behavior. Manmohan Singh’s quiet stance is disturbing. More so the usually vocal president Kalam too, hasn’t made his views known. Given the fact that both are academicians of high caliber it does not bode well.
A specially set up “Knowledge Commission” to provide for guidelines to make India competitive, frame educational policies and other guidelines to retain our technological edge has been shod over. Two members resigned in disgust!
The anti-reservation protestors go by the name of “youth for equality” and at many places they have faced police brutality. The few pro-reservation rallies were violent which leads me to believe that they were politically organized and conducted by goons. That speaks of the qualitative difference; if students are trying to safeguard their ‘interests’ and ‘seats’ as higher caste persons – that is not good at all. If the ideal is indeed ‘equality’ and maintaining ‘merit’ – then good and they deserve all the support possible.
The government seems to be diluting the stance by offering an increase in the seats for open category seats. The question is not whether the NUMBER of OPEN seats should be unaffected – but that ANY and EVERY seat should be based on merit.
Their decision to increase seats is so hasty and ill-thought of. They have presented no concrete plan of how they are going to go about the expansion and this is in the scenario where ALL – I repeat ALL – the IIM’s and IIT’s are ALREADY FACING A SHORTAGE of staff. In such a case if suddenly faced with even 20-30 students more every year will quality and standards be maintained? Their solution? Hire staff! But is the staff of that caliber available to train and teach bright students? Acknowledged world class institutes - that took years to develop their reputations – will be reduced to intellectual rubble in the span of a year!
Is there any study – logical and comprehensive that shows that the safeguards and privileges granted to the weaker sections of our society for all these years has benefited them to the degree intended. Have all sections been covered? Did the worst of the lot make use of the opportunities and progress? Did this raise their standard of living? Did it serve as an example for more youth to perform well and study hard? Before widening the ambit of a policy that is going to cost the tax-payer do we not deserve to know how and where the money went? Was it well spent?
What is ironical is that in states like Rajasthan, for example – people have managed to convert their castes to OBC status with their money and political muscle. So they are actually not in need of reservations, so to speak and yet had their status legally altered to avail of constitutional benefits. This sets an alarming precedent of a new nexus springing up and foretells of future ‘contracts’ & ‘deals’ that will worsen already corrupt practices here. An added source of income for the officials and politicians?
The Congress party has ruled India – dynastically at that – for the maximum number of years. They have not made any strides in actual progress in any field. Industrially the “LICENSE RAJ” stunted growth and benefited the few while fostering corruption. Every time that they were faced with defeat they resorted to sloganeering “GARIBO HATAO” (which continues to this day) and our constitutional rights were thrown out of the window during the “EMERGENCY”. Farmers are dying all over the country… disturbing when we are an agrarian economy! They pursued the policy of divide and rule all the while to garner votes and stay in power. Their support to Muslims widened the gap between the communities, widening the chasm that partition left in its aftermath. Religion dealt with, now they are trying to divide us along caste lines. At a time when we need to work as one, to combine our prowess in every walk of life and unite to drive India’s growth story - Arjun Singh an old, senile man - pursuing a one-point agenda of becoming immortal – is throwing a spanner in the works!
Chidambaram has cleverly added a 2.5% surcharge on education – this is over and above all the other taxes citizens pay. On every tax that you pay you are paying 2.5% more to finance education at the primary level. What has been the efficacy of this measure? How does the government propose to raise the 8,000crore required to finance this stupid move? By raising our taxes again? What is the guarantee that the money is being spent well? Performance of primary school children has been dismal. So with a poor foundation can they be expected to be up to the mark at higher levels? Rather than WASTE money on a mere HANDFUL seats in higher education institutes (HIGH VISIBILTY but TOTAL STUPIDITY) why are they not focusing on affecting THOUSANDS of YOUNG CHILDREN and equipping them with the means to compete an the SAME LEVEL as other fortunate kids?
The government can educate millions – the bright ones can be given financial assistance and supported all the way! The mediocre ones needn’t languish and be weeded out – rather they can be trained in vocational and technical subjects to enable them with the skills to earn a decent livelihood.
Are all ‘upper caste’ kids smart? – NO. Are all ‘lower caste’ kids dumb? –NO. Are there smart kids in India? –Yes. Are castes not a human construct? –YES. Do we need to continue emphasizing this divide and worsen it? –NO!
Lets us consider 100 citizens. 20 are upper caste (UC). 30 are backward caste(BC) and 50 are other backward caste(OBC).
Of the 20 UC 10 are clever and do well at an entrance exam for medical students. Let’s assign those ranks as #3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, & 18.
Of the 30 BC 10 do as well in the exam. Let’s assign those ranks as #2, 4, 15, 16, 19, 22, 23, 26, & 30.
Of the OBC 10 perform well. Let’s assign those ranks as #1, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, & 29.
-------------------
NOTE: the first thing to realize is that there always is a higher “proportion” of UC who do well because they had a better schooling and more opportunities.
I am still estimating that the BC and OBC do well because they are often truly bright and perform well in spite of handicapping circumstances.
-------------------
Now, if there were only 10 seats to fill in a medical college we would expect that they will be filled as follows OBC (3 & 7) BC (2 & 4) & UC (3, 5, 6, 8, 9 & 10). Fair? I think so? But if the reservation policy and the one to be ushered in soon are in effect then the seats reserved are over 50% and this means that seats will be filled as follows OBC (3, 7 & 13) BC (2, 4 & 15) & UC (3, 5, 6 & 8) If you were to treated for an illness would you prefer the former doctors or the latter? Similarly should our bridges, roads, essential services, bureaucracy, etc. be so run?
--------------------
NOTE: A rank of 1 or 5 does not always indicate ability–but it is a pretty good indicator!
--------------------
If we are to consider the logic of empowering the weaker sections of society and do give them the seats… they may make good doctors and engineers – no problem. But do they desire to be protected at all higher levels? How is it that there are no reservations in elite schools? DPS, Doon, Mayo and the like? The politicians don’t want their children to suffer perhaps? The high drop-out rate in primary schools is not being combated. Reserved category students at IIT take over 6 years to complete the course… there are many seats that haven’t even been filled in universities… when a system is flawed – rather that correct it why are they opting for populist measures that will serve no real purpose apart from publicizing themselves as messiahs and garnering votes to stay in power? Lot was made of the issue in the media. The world cup has overshadowed most other events right now – like I had predicted in my last blog, for them it is just news. Let us not loose sight of the real issues… more later.
A specially set up “Knowledge Commission” to provide for guidelines to make India competitive, frame educational policies and other guidelines to retain our technological edge has been shod over. Two members resigned in disgust!
The anti-reservation protestors go by the name of “youth for equality” and at many places they have faced police brutality. The few pro-reservation rallies were violent which leads me to believe that they were politically organized and conducted by goons. That speaks of the qualitative difference; if students are trying to safeguard their ‘interests’ and ‘seats’ as higher caste persons – that is not good at all. If the ideal is indeed ‘equality’ and maintaining ‘merit’ – then good and they deserve all the support possible.
The government seems to be diluting the stance by offering an increase in the seats for open category seats. The question is not whether the NUMBER of OPEN seats should be unaffected – but that ANY and EVERY seat should be based on merit.
Their decision to increase seats is so hasty and ill-thought of. They have presented no concrete plan of how they are going to go about the expansion and this is in the scenario where ALL – I repeat ALL – the IIM’s and IIT’s are ALREADY FACING A SHORTAGE of staff. In such a case if suddenly faced with even 20-30 students more every year will quality and standards be maintained? Their solution? Hire staff! But is the staff of that caliber available to train and teach bright students? Acknowledged world class institutes - that took years to develop their reputations – will be reduced to intellectual rubble in the span of a year!
Is there any study – logical and comprehensive that shows that the safeguards and privileges granted to the weaker sections of our society for all these years has benefited them to the degree intended. Have all sections been covered? Did the worst of the lot make use of the opportunities and progress? Did this raise their standard of living? Did it serve as an example for more youth to perform well and study hard? Before widening the ambit of a policy that is going to cost the tax-payer do we not deserve to know how and where the money went? Was it well spent?
What is ironical is that in states like Rajasthan, for example – people have managed to convert their castes to OBC status with their money and political muscle. So they are actually not in need of reservations, so to speak and yet had their status legally altered to avail of constitutional benefits. This sets an alarming precedent of a new nexus springing up and foretells of future ‘contracts’ & ‘deals’ that will worsen already corrupt practices here. An added source of income for the officials and politicians?
The Congress party has ruled India – dynastically at that – for the maximum number of years. They have not made any strides in actual progress in any field. Industrially the “LICENSE RAJ” stunted growth and benefited the few while fostering corruption. Every time that they were faced with defeat they resorted to sloganeering “GARIBO HATAO” (which continues to this day) and our constitutional rights were thrown out of the window during the “EMERGENCY”. Farmers are dying all over the country… disturbing when we are an agrarian economy! They pursued the policy of divide and rule all the while to garner votes and stay in power. Their support to Muslims widened the gap between the communities, widening the chasm that partition left in its aftermath. Religion dealt with, now they are trying to divide us along caste lines. At a time when we need to work as one, to combine our prowess in every walk of life and unite to drive India’s growth story - Arjun Singh an old, senile man - pursuing a one-point agenda of becoming immortal – is throwing a spanner in the works!
Chidambaram has cleverly added a 2.5% surcharge on education – this is over and above all the other taxes citizens pay. On every tax that you pay you are paying 2.5% more to finance education at the primary level. What has been the efficacy of this measure? How does the government propose to raise the 8,000crore required to finance this stupid move? By raising our taxes again? What is the guarantee that the money is being spent well? Performance of primary school children has been dismal. So with a poor foundation can they be expected to be up to the mark at higher levels? Rather than WASTE money on a mere HANDFUL seats in higher education institutes (HIGH VISIBILTY but TOTAL STUPIDITY) why are they not focusing on affecting THOUSANDS of YOUNG CHILDREN and equipping them with the means to compete an the SAME LEVEL as other fortunate kids?
The government can educate millions – the bright ones can be given financial assistance and supported all the way! The mediocre ones needn’t languish and be weeded out – rather they can be trained in vocational and technical subjects to enable them with the skills to earn a decent livelihood.
Are all ‘upper caste’ kids smart? – NO. Are all ‘lower caste’ kids dumb? –NO. Are there smart kids in India? –Yes. Are castes not a human construct? –YES. Do we need to continue emphasizing this divide and worsen it? –NO!
Lets us consider 100 citizens. 20 are upper caste (UC). 30 are backward caste(BC) and 50 are other backward caste(OBC).
Of the 20 UC 10 are clever and do well at an entrance exam for medical students. Let’s assign those ranks as #3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, & 18.
Of the 30 BC 10 do as well in the exam. Let’s assign those ranks as #2, 4, 15, 16, 19, 22, 23, 26, & 30.
Of the OBC 10 perform well. Let’s assign those ranks as #1, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, & 29.
-------------------
NOTE: the first thing to realize is that there always is a higher “proportion” of UC who do well because they had a better schooling and more opportunities.
I am still estimating that the BC and OBC do well because they are often truly bright and perform well in spite of handicapping circumstances.
-------------------
Now, if there were only 10 seats to fill in a medical college we would expect that they will be filled as follows OBC (3 & 7) BC (2 & 4) & UC (3, 5, 6, 8, 9 & 10). Fair? I think so? But if the reservation policy and the one to be ushered in soon are in effect then the seats reserved are over 50% and this means that seats will be filled as follows OBC (3, 7 & 13) BC (2, 4 & 15) & UC (3, 5, 6 & 8) If you were to treated for an illness would you prefer the former doctors or the latter? Similarly should our bridges, roads, essential services, bureaucracy, etc. be so run?
--------------------
NOTE: A rank of 1 or 5 does not always indicate ability–but it is a pretty good indicator!
--------------------
If we are to consider the logic of empowering the weaker sections of society and do give them the seats… they may make good doctors and engineers – no problem. But do they desire to be protected at all higher levels? How is it that there are no reservations in elite schools? DPS, Doon, Mayo and the like? The politicians don’t want their children to suffer perhaps? The high drop-out rate in primary schools is not being combated. Reserved category students at IIT take over 6 years to complete the course… there are many seats that haven’t even been filled in universities… when a system is flawed – rather that correct it why are they opting for populist measures that will serve no real purpose apart from publicizing themselves as messiahs and garnering votes to stay in power? Lot was made of the issue in the media. The world cup has overshadowed most other events right now – like I had predicted in my last blog, for them it is just news. Let us not loose sight of the real issues… more later.
Comments
Also, about wanting to be treated by some particular merit rank of docs, both of us know from experience - both by looking at the way that admissions are carried out in india AND by people who do become doctors........Both of us have seen people with high ranks through school and at the end of it expressed concern over the fact that "OMG he/she's going to be practicsing out in the open now!" After having seen the ground reality, do you still really think that ones with a higher "rank" make better docs?
And in any case, like i said before, this isnt really about the patients. Its about our right to an equal education. If students are trained well (not just technically, but even socially, which is not at all part of our curriculum right now), they will make good doctors....rest assured. This is why the majority of our clients at "Dilaasa" (the domestic violence cell where i volunteer) are able to share their fears and experiences about suicide (ideation or attempt) to our not-so-polished, down to earth cousellors and social workers rather than the MD Psychiatrists. They are able to relate to them better, and hence respond to their therapy just as well. This kind of connection is lost with "formally educated" doctors because they have not learnt to live in a socially cosmopolitan atmosphere. One of the objectives of the Mandal commission, apparently, was to accomplish that........to make people comfortable with each otehr's social status'. But instead of medical schools becoming a melting pot of students from different backgrounds and socio-economic strata, they've actually become battlefields of reserved vs non-reserved and THAT is the tragedy of it all.
Again, Doon, DPS and Mayo arent the only educational institutuins that dont have reservations based on caste. But barring DPS, both Mayo and Doon need a helluva lot of money and pull to get you in there. Does this scenario seem familiar? YES.....This is exactly how DYpatil, Manipal, and almost ALL pvt colleges in karnataka and elsewhere function. So basically, its ok to have reservations based on how much money you can throw, but its "inequality" when the reservations are based on caste? Is that what the youth of this country believes? If not, WHY oh WHY isnt anyone boycotting pvt colleges?
One more thing........apart from the points you mentioned about why increasing the number of seats in the colleges was a bad idea, you missed out one very very important issue.......THIS COUNTRY DOESNOT NEED ANYMORE SUPERSPECIALISED DOCTORS THAN IT ALREADY HAS! If we increase the number of seats, we'll just be creating more useless professionals who will concentrate themselves in the urban areas leaving the majority of the population unattended. If you remember, Thakore Sir in final year, told us that on the Diwali of 2003, 300 dental clinics were inaugurated in Bangalore city. THREE FUCKING HUNDRED! Have you ever wondered where all these patients are coming from? There seem to be a LOT of dentally ill patients in this country......so many ill patients suffering from a disease that is almost 100% preventable. So why isnt the prevalence of dental disease dropping with so many dentists being "produced"? What good are all those colleges doing us? Afterall, isnt that the goal of health professionals......to improve the health of the nation?
THESE are the questions that the youth need to ponder over, as does the govt. But the govt, as it stands to day, is duck-backed.....so we'd probably be better off explaining this to the students.
Now, you're going to block me from commenting on your site, arent you? :)