Stop Reservations

The Mandal Commission in India was established in 1979 by the Janata Party government under Prime Minister Morarji Desai with a mandate to "identify the socially or educationally backward". It was headed by Indian parliamentarian B.P. Mandal to consider the question of seat reservations and quotas for people to redress caste discrimination, and used eleven social, economic, and educational indicators to determine "backwardness". In 1980, the commssion's report affirmed the affirmative action practice under Indian law whereby members of lower castes (known as Other Backward Classes and Scheduled Castes and Tribes) were given exclusive access to a certain portion of government jobs and slots in public universities, and recommended changes to these quotas, increasing them by 27% to 49.5%. The report, released in 1980, was the source of great controversy, and its implementation in 1990 was the ultimate cause of India's Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh's resignation.

Why 49.5%?

Under the 1950 Constitution of India, 15% of educational and civil service seats were reserved for "scheduled castes" and 7.5% for "scheduled tribes." The first backward classes commission, headed by Kaka Kalelkar, submitted its report in 1955.

In 1963, the Supreme Court of India ruled that total reservations could not exceed 50%.

"In continuation with the ongoing agitation we have decided to launch the nationwide agitation next week. At the moment we are coordinating with students in several places including Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chandigarh," AIIMS Students' Union spokesperson Sasmit Sarangi said.

"It seems that the Election Commission's code of conduct is applicable to Mr Arjun Singh only and not his other Cabinet colleagues," he added.

The students of Maulana Azad Medical College, Lady Hardinge Medical College, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, University College of Medical Sciences and Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College have boycotted lectures and stayed away from OPD services.

Medical students and junior doctors protest against the government's move to increase reservations in medical institutions at Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi on Wednesday

Medical students are arrested by Delhi Police as they stage a protest against the government's recommendation to make a 27.5 per cent reservation for backward classes in the education sector and in government jobs, in New Delhi on April 26, 2006. Hundreds of medical students protested against the Congress-led UPA government proposed move to reserve seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in elite institutions saying the proposal, if implemented, would create "quota doctors" which would have "disastrous" consequences.

Docs clash with Cops.....

The original architect of Mandal politics, VP Singh, declared on Tuesday his intention to fight for caste-based reservations in the Parliament as well as the judiciary. He said he would continue to drum up support for quotas for OBCs in the Parliament and the SC/ST and OBCs in the judiciary.

At a rally organised by the All India Progressive Janata Dal (AIPJD) here, the former Prime Minister along with Ajit Singh, Raj Babbar and former Karnataka deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah moved five resolutions on quotas in education and employment.

"Why not 100% quota, Mr Singh?"

Even as medicos clashed with police in New Delhi protesting reservation in medical colleges for OBCs/STs and SCs, the story on VP Singh's renewed zest for quotas in Parliament and judiciary had surfers frowning all over.

Here's how it went:

Sashi from Pune was at his caustic best when he said, "Perhaps VP Singh should start by imposing quota on doctors attending him."

Raj from Los Angeles, USA too had similar thoughts. He added his bit.

"Fine, then. My suggestion would be for all those VVIPs who so fervently argue in favour of increased quote, be it in IITs/IIMs, private sector, or now in the judiciary, that they should practice what they preach.

Read more about what surfers have to say....

Students demonstrating against the reservation policy of Government in New Delhi on Monday, April 17, 2006.

Under attack over his controversial proposal for reservation for OBCs in elite educational institutions, HRD Minister Arjun Singh on Thursday said he was ready to meet the agitating medicos but expressed his inability to talk on the reservation issue due to Election Commission directives.

"I was pained by the news that a number of students of medical colleges wanted to meet me (on the reservation issue) and were not allowed to come and see me."

Hundreds of medical students protested against the Cong-led UPA govt proposed move to reserve seats for SCs and STs. Protesting under the banner 'Youth for Equality', the students from five medical colleges accused political parties of catering to vote banks under the garb of helping the backward classes.

"The politicians are catering to their vote banks. Not one party opposed the bill in Parliament. They are playing divide and rule," Supriya Gupta, President Lady Hardinge College, said.

"The quota will severely compromise the kind of health professionals this country gets. It is not machines or instruments but human life that is at stake," she said, adding that colleagues from the OBC category are "financially, intellectually and economically equal."

The students say that they are for reservations based on economic status and at the primary level.

The students also burnt the HRD Minister in an effigy.

More in pictures....

Whenever the issue of reservation comes up for public debate, the entire Dalit and backward community is painted as devoid of any merit without caring about the fact that a majority of them survive without reservation. On the other hand, the debate declares the so-called upper castes as meritorious. Therefore at this juncture when the debate on reservation is rife, let us gauge merit on both sides.

The recently initiated proposal by the government to introduce reservation in the private sector has left a large spectrum of the corporate sector and the student community questioning the relevance and eventual benefits of such a policy. The student community in particular stands to be impacted by the move which comes shortly after the decision to increase the quota in institutes of higher education. Is this a move towards greater justice or a poll related step that may well derail economic reforms? Will it help India Inc acquire a more equitable character or will it just kill the goose that lays the golden egg by eliminating the edge that Indian companies have acquired with dilligence? Tell us what you think, and why

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