Quite an oxymoron…don’t you think? But not totally unfitting…although the MHRD has had its way and confirmed 27% reservations for OBC’s in higher educational institutions, the future of OBC quota candidates will be announced after SC hearing. The results of general quota in IIM’s are out and as per one news article*, in IIMC as many as 16 OBC candidates and 13 SC/ST candidates have made the final cut sans the quota in the general list. This piece of information could have so easily been Mozart to my ears…
Instead, it puts me a dilemma and forces me to ponder, is it really a good news when put in context?…its a bane in disguise I would conclude on a second thought…why you ask ? Well you see, On one hand the performance of these 29 candidates proves beyond shadow of any doubt that a meritorious candidate, irrespective of background can secure a seat(which according to me is more encouraging index of social parity), something anti-quota protestants have been screaming their lungs out about ever since the issue broke out.
On the other hand I feel its injustice to few other general candidates served in a golden platter…its like a kick in the gut for being deserving.
Now, as far as these 29 candidates are concerned, it is safest to assume that they would have made the cut even if the OBC list is to be exercised post SC hearing. Even if the Quota does not get the SC nod, there is the already existing quota of 2pc for OBC’s 15pc for SC’s and 7.5pc where the 29 could have been accommodated, so here either ways these deserving students would not have suffered.
But now what has happened is, thanks to these, “over achievers”(apologies for the phrase), 29 general category candidates will curse their “caste” or for the “highness” of it inspite scoring better than many who eventually will be chosen over them…only if those 29 were taken under the OBC list, 29 other deserving ..I repeat..deserving general students could have reaped the benefit of putting in those sleepless nights, movieless weekends etc…I wont be surprised if few students in IIT’s and IIM’s discuss movies, cricket matches etc with relatively more authority and information than others …now is that restoring social parity?? beats me!
I think if there is a quota for a particular class, then candidates falling under that category should be given admission under that quota only, even if he/she qualifies for general quota, so that the general quota candidates don’t suffer. Either that or have quotas for all classes including other classes.
Reservations are detrimental to Social Welfare even theoretically in economics..
Pareto Optimality criterion in Welfare Economics any one?
It defines Social Welfare as a state where “a change benefits one class without making the other worse off”, Now that’s what we want for Social Welfare don’t we? Clearly, the Quotas hurt one or the other, so where is Social parity?.
If OBC candidates are allowed in both general seats and reserved seats. It is very, very…. very unfair for the deserving general candidates who don’t have any reservations.
I think, first of all we must determine who exactly needs Upliftment…is it the OBC’s, SC/ST’s both in rural and urban areas? Or is it just those in rural areas? I think its the later who need prior attention. In fact, I feel it’s the total rural population who need upliftment and not just the BC’s and OBC’s of rural areas.
If the quotas are introduced to accommodate an OBC candidate from rural
India, because he did not get the same educational opportunities as his urban counterparts, fair enough. But then my question would be- What about his childhood, poor Non OBC friend, who went to the same school as he, and faced same problems like poverty, lack of good:books, school, internet, library etc?
Even if his friend scores better than him in CAT, there is slim chance he’ll make it. But the OBC candidate will make it for sure…given the same background, different class………thanks to Quota!!
Ye kahaan ka nyay he?? The Rural Non OBC boy will ask…
This is what I call “Merit Royaly Fucked by Quota”… (no apologies this time).
So, where does the solution lie?
For me the solution does not lie in Quota System…if the Government really wants to help the needy, it should stop taking Short term, Temporary, Populist Shortcuts (Read: Quota) and should start concentrating on taking measures at the grass root level, and not at the shoot levels where to advantage a few they disadvantage others, that will only lead to reduction in Social Welfare or may be shift in advantage at best.
And still if Quota’s are to remain, it rather be for rural candidates on the whole than only for OBC’s of rural areas.
OK..OK..enough of the rhetoric..Just one parting unsolicited suggestion…If you are one of the millions of underpriviliged NON OBC students who is applying next year… then you better get back to your preparation right now and do that little bit more to confirm your unreservedseat, while a few state sponsored priviliged catch up with Rani and Saif in Ta Ra Rum Pum…Best of Luck!!
*Rediff News, 27th April.
