Thursday, May 25, 2006
I’m from lower caste, I'm not for quotas: Pitroda
A day after two members of the Knowledge Commission resigned citing Centre's inaction over the OBC quotas, its chairman Sam Pitroda said there was no need to have reservation as opportunities were available.
"You don't have to have reservation. There are opportunities available," he said.
Pitroda said there was a need to expand opportunities to ensure inclusive growth.
"We need to expand opportunities, and if you do not expand then you worry about all these issues (reservations). The key is really expansion" he told BBC news.
Emphasising on the importance of inclusive growth, Pitroda said "you cannot have growth which alienates large parts of your society.”
He said in India, irrespective of talent, the growth has been inclusive and the future has to be even more inclusive in terms of caste and in terms of background.
Noting that he himself came from a lower caste in tribal Orissa, Pitroda, who heads Worldtel, said he did not follow on reservations. "There is a path that one can take in the democratic system."
He said it was wrong to say that the Knowledge Commission had voted for or voted against reservations.
"What we have said basically is that we recognise and subscribe to the basic principle of including everybody as part of the expansion plan and growth plan. How we do it is something we need to debate," he said.
Source : Expressindia
"You don't have to have reservation. There are opportunities available," he said.
Pitroda said there was a need to expand opportunities to ensure inclusive growth.
"We need to expand opportunities, and if you do not expand then you worry about all these issues (reservations). The key is really expansion" he told BBC news.
Emphasising on the importance of inclusive growth, Pitroda said "you cannot have growth which alienates large parts of your society.”
He said in India, irrespective of talent, the growth has been inclusive and the future has to be even more inclusive in terms of caste and in terms of background.
Noting that he himself came from a lower caste in tribal Orissa, Pitroda, who heads Worldtel, said he did not follow on reservations. "There is a path that one can take in the democratic system."
He said it was wrong to say that the Knowledge Commission had voted for or voted against reservations.
"What we have said basically is that we recognise and subscribe to the basic principle of including everybody as part of the expansion plan and growth plan. How we do it is something we need to debate," he said.
Source : Expressindia
