Comments on: A fresh look at Reservations and Quotas – Part II

By: Ramesh

Ramesh — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 16:37:52 +0000

Pratap Bhanu Mehta’s recent article in the IE is nothing more than a demonstration of his grasp of English knowledge. Much of the article is meaningless and based on acceptance as absolute truths, of the lies and falsehoods peddled by the Social Justice dispensers of India. Consider this statement “the texture of social relations between marginalised communities and others is deeply debilitating for marginalised groups, in ways we cannot even imagine”. This is absolute trash. If ‘we’ cannot imagine, why think about it? The important issue is, who is marginalised? Take the case of TN, where 69% of all Govt jobs, seats in colleges, 100% of scholarships is reserved for an overwhelming majority of population shockingly and absurdly categorised as “backward”. The result, more than 99% of State jobs are with the reserved, year after year 100% of Medical seats are taken by the ‘reserved’. And these people are called ‘marginalised’ by the terrorised media. Karnataka falls in the same league.

By: B Shantanu

B Shantanu — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 10:54:20 +0000

A short snippet from a recent OpEd by Pratap Bhanu Mehta: The challenge of combating discrimination is complicated. But there is no doubt that despite reservations (or arguably, because of the form they have taken), the texture of social relations between marginalised communities and others is deeply debilitating for marginalised groups, in ways we cannot even imagine. In certain areas, like practices of segregation, the law might help. Assistance to institutions to deal with this form of diversity is absolutely essential. Some programmes have paid dividends. But law, administrative solutions, and reducing justice to a numbers game will only go so far; in fact it can sometimes crowd out and distort the fundamental moral issues. The appalling truth is that there are very few places that the required ethical labour is being done.

By: B Shantanu

B Shantanu — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:30:58 +0000

Sudha: The reservation policy has already “degenerated” in India…This is a benefit that today is mostly cornered by the creamy layer – and there is a constant demand from various groups to extend this “benefit” to them (thus the Gujjar agitation from a few years back). Sad but few seem to care – fewer still have the courage to speak the truth about it..Instead we have an ever expanding quota regime – now including women’s reservation in Parliament.

By: Sudhav

Sudhav — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 21:14:24 +0000

My personal opinion on this, partly based on the experience of ‘positive discrimination’ in the UK is that reservation based on caste is illogical. The aim is to educate to a basic minimum level for all, as you have said, and to facilitate the ‘best brains’ to excel to help in the progress and development of the country.
I think reservation, including for women in parliament should be phased out.
Scholarships should be used more widely to promote excellence.Positive discimination could somehow be factored in, but no reservation. When does a rich dalit CM/MLA and his family get taken out of the reservation loop at the present?Probably never. Reservation would degenerate into nepotism or worse.
The nation is being sacrificed for the sake of caste or the family.

By: B Shantanu

B Shantanu — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 13:18:08 +0000

Pl do read: http://realitycheck.wordpress.com/2011/08/13/kerala-10-quota-to-poor-in-big-trouble/