Thursday, May 04, 2006
Latest bigtime CONTROVERSY... Reservations in India!!
In the knowledge-based economy, people with right kind of skill-set will be able to make through and the need is to give underprivileged people the wings by giving knowledge, adding skills and right aptitude rather than providing them the crutches of reservation. Reservation in prestigious institutions is one of the means and not the only means to blend a commitment to excellence with a commitment to equity. I am of the firm belief that this move generates acrimony and promotes divisive tendencies among those who are able to make through and who were left even though they had better track record.
Already much damage has been done to the nation by the Mandalisation. Getting admission in reputed institutions is more difficult in India as compared to even best institutions elsewhere in any developed nation if we observe the ratio of candidates selected vis-à-vis number of candidates appearing in the test. Infact its much easier to study abroad, as the reputation of the university will be better than IIM's/IIT's at the global level and the entrance is far easier. Which is one of the prime reasons why some of the deserving students are moving out of India for a better quality of education at a lesser entrance fight.
On the one hand, one is coming through the ardent process of selection whereas on the other, someone is given the place just because of his/her affiliation or belongingness to a particular class. If this is allowed then the purpose of providing access is achieved but the pursuit of excellence will suffer. Merit-cum-means scheme can better serve the purpose of excellence even among underprivileged sections of the society.
In addition to this, the emphasis should be on their primary and secondary education, provision of interest-free educational loans, quality coaching institutions which train them to compete and also provision of the platform where they meet their role models who have made it even though facing same hardships. Even though it may be termed as weak form of affirmative action but at least it provides an equal opportunity to compete and has moral justification also. And if further reservation is asked for then the political establishment is asking for doing another wrong to correct the wrong done in the past. Moreover, in the name of affirmative action, reservation creates a stigma of undeservedness, whether or not it is deserved. By giving people what they deserve as individuals, rather than as members of groups we show respect for their inherent worth. Otherwise it promotes mediocrity and resentment.
We have IIMs and IITs which have established themselves as global brand and these institutions are expected to promote meritocracy and not mediocrity as these institutions are trend-setters for other institutions in the country. The need is to maintain status quo of these institutions as institutions of excellence rather than eroding their basic standards. ¶ 3:19 AM
In the knowledge-based economy, people with right kind of skill-set will be able to make through and the need is to give underprivileged people the wings by giving knowledge, adding skills and right aptitude rather than providing them the crutches of reservation. Reservation in prestigious institutions is one of the means and not the only means to blend a commitment to excellence with a commitment to equity. I am of the firm belief that this move generates acrimony and promotes divisive tendencies among those who are able to make through and who were left even though they had better track record.
Already much damage has been done to the nation by the Mandalisation. Getting admission in reputed institutions is more difficult in India as compared to even best institutions elsewhere in any developed nation if we observe the ratio of candidates selected vis-à-vis number of candidates appearing in the test. Infact its much easier to study abroad, as the reputation of the university will be better than IIM's/IIT's at the global level and the entrance is far easier. Which is one of the prime reasons why some of the deserving students are moving out of India for a better quality of education at a lesser entrance fight.
On the one hand, one is coming through the ardent process of selection whereas on the other, someone is given the place just because of his/her affiliation or belongingness to a particular class. If this is allowed then the purpose of providing access is achieved but the pursuit of excellence will suffer. Merit-cum-means scheme can better serve the purpose of excellence even among underprivileged sections of the society.
In addition to this, the emphasis should be on their primary and secondary education, provision of interest-free educational loans, quality coaching institutions which train them to compete and also provision of the platform where they meet their role models who have made it even though facing same hardships. Even though it may be termed as weak form of affirmative action but at least it provides an equal opportunity to compete and has moral justification also. And if further reservation is asked for then the political establishment is asking for doing another wrong to correct the wrong done in the past. Moreover, in the name of affirmative action, reservation creates a stigma of undeservedness, whether or not it is deserved. By giving people what they deserve as individuals, rather than as members of groups we show respect for their inherent worth. Otherwise it promotes mediocrity and resentment.
We have IIMs and IITs which have established themselves as global brand and these institutions are expected to promote meritocracy and not mediocrity as these institutions are trend-setters for other institutions in the country. The need is to maintain status quo of these institutions as institutions of excellence rather than eroding their basic standards. ¶ 3:19 AM
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I dont think reservations in the IIMs/IITs will affect their quality. They have had some kind of reservation before and nothing happened to their quality. In fact, if they're really good, which they are, they'll still churn out quality graduates. Even though there is increased reservation, you still have to go through the entrance procedure, which is still tough.
# posted by 
: 11:39 AM
: 11:39 AM
@atlantean.. I am a passout of one of the government engineering colleges in M.P. and I no how the guys from reserved category misuse the liberties they are given. I agree reservations should be there for the growth of the under privilaged, but then reservations should be everywhere, in Army, Airforce, Navy and not just the elite colleges like IIT/IIMs. If reservation is there, then the seats should be increased so as to accomodate deserving candidates.
What will 200 seats do for improvement of a 25-50 crore reserved community? Its better to provide them with good basic education and make them at par with everyone.
Reservation is a life-support for otherwise healthy person
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Reservation is a life-support for otherwise healthy person
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