this is a very complex problem to which there are hardly any shortcut solutions...
the current trend is that
1. the "forward" caste ppl are fighting for their pound of the quota pie..aka marathas in maharastra...brhamins in tamilnadu etc etc..
2.there are religious minorities aka muslims,christians,jains etc tht want religious quotas..
3.there are those ppl who fight for equality and want no quotas based on caste or religion.
4.there are OBC's & SC's/ST's that dont want their share of the pie to come down at any cost..
5.there is the supreme court that will not allow more than 50% quota
6.there are politicians tht cant survive without quota politics
7.and last but not the least there there are actual poor downtrodden people cutting across all castes and religion tht have not seen the fruits of progress and actually need all the help and support that they can get..
in the current context how would it be possible to satisfy all these groups..??????
i think its possible..
well firstly let me start my discussion by emphasising tht this idea does not disturb the current general pool of 50%..and all the subsequent discussion will be with respect to the quota pie that forms the remaining 50%
let us consider the current senario if we have 100 seats to fill we will do it by 51-UR(Un-reserved) 27-OBC 22-sc/st (so of the quota pie fo 50 seats the sc/st corners 45% and the OBC corners the remaining 55% )
now let us assume the quota pie had to be re dividied on population basis such at each caste group gets a share in proportion to the number of persons in their community tht really need this kind of provision for their betterment..
note1:for calculating number of persons in each community i have used the following references
2.caste/community wise peopulation below poverty line-( under the heading-Caste and community profile of people below the poverty line in India, as outlined in the Sachar Report)
3.for total category wise population (NSSO 99-00 stats) {the latest available i know of}
4.i have made an asumption in the above data that the 35.7% un-Reserved (UR) category is constuted by 28.7% (UR) hindu+4.8%(UR) muslim+0.8%(UR)christians and 1.4%(UR) others{aka jains sikhs etc}
5. the proportion used for making the assumption in 4 was point 1.population- religion wise proportion
so as per the above data the entire porulation can be caegorised as.. 36% obc, 20.3% sc,8% st , 28.7% (UR) hindu+4.8%(UR) muslim+0.8%(UR)christians and 1.4%(UR) others{aka jains sikhs etc}
note2: for the purpose of deciding how much representation each caste/religious group gets???? i have used the population below poverty line as the sole decider to decide the proportion of representation each caste\religious group gets.. i have arrived at the actual numbers of population below poverty line using as reference -Caste and community profile of people below the poverty line in India, as outlined in the Sachar Report
using these values i arrived: at 37%-obc, 29%-SC, 14%-ST,5%-muslim(UR), 13%-hindu (UR), 2%-others(UR) as the proportion of representation of each caste/religion group gets in the quota pie..
{note (UR)=Un-reserved}
so in order to provide reservations to needy persons from Un-categorised caste and religious groups.. also to ensure tht the current quota pie of the OBC and SC/ST are not to be disturbed numerically we need to increase the total number of available seats..(... this arrangement is similar to the one that MMS govt made to accomodate the OBC quota without disturbing the available general seats...)
so in order to maintain OBC,SC,ST seats at previous levels numerically , there must be a total of 146 seats where there were 100 so that is an increase in total seats of 46%
applying the above cited figues we will have the new breakup such that
146total= 73-general + 27-OBC+21-SC+10-ST+4-muslim (UR)+9 hindu (UR)+2 others(UR)
so in effect the OBC numbers per se are not disturbed..SC/ST numbers increase...the needy among the UR get accomodated.. but the final ratio inevitably alters..
how will this scheme work???
when wil the extra intake capicity come?-
the seats dont need to be created overnight, it can be done in a phased manner say over a period of 5 yrs...so that additional seats as and when created will be added to the general pool and to new categories as and when the seats are created...so tht the new quota is implimented in a phased manner..
where will it come from?
1.the planning commission has already readied plans to almost double the number of graduate seats over the next 10 yrs in most disiplines..
2.implement this scheme in all private un adied institutiions..and 50% seats of the minority colleges(the reamaining 50% seats will go for the respective minority college to give to the students of tht particular minority){this so tht minority vote mongers are satisfied}
this i feel is not exactly a solution to the ghost of mandal politics but its def a step in the right direction..its like the system is unfair so lets make it EQUALLY unfair for all the people instead of it being selectively unfair..coz its not gonna be feasible to undo the quota system in the nxt few generations..because all our polices..our beaurocreacy.. our political establishment are built around this dirty game of providing entitlements..so instead of giving anyone a head start in the race .. start the race a few minutes late for everyone..so tht the earlier handicap for few and advantages for others is neutralized..and the handicap becomes part of the game and is no longer a handicap
also the following caveats must be established in the system...most importantly universalize education for every child born in this country and ensure quality education at the school level..the following also deserve due attention..
1. the proportion of representation will be decided on somewhat the lines described above using latest scientific data and methods (the data must be collected if not already available) through consultation and consenses with all stake holders
2.this measure shall be applied as a one time measure at the enry level for graduate education and there shall be no such entitlements at the post grad level
3.even for jobs there wil be this system in place only at entry level and not in promotions
4.only 1 generation should benifit from such a measure..as in if you take this advantage then your future generations shall not be entitled to the same
5.there shall be a periodic review of the decided proportion from time to time and an independent autonomous body shall perform it and its decision will be binding on the executive
6. have horizontal reservation built into each category wherin 2/3rd will be for rural and 1/3rd for urban..have further sub categories in these horizontal category such tht BPL familes get 2/3 and low income people get the rest
7.have the creamy layer cut off at such a level tht only the low income groups qualify and not the middle or high income groups..
8.fully subsidise the education of BPL families..provide them with free books and hostels..
9.provide interest free education loans for the low income groups..
10.provide low interest education loans at a subsidised rate for middle classes
11.have only 1 common national level entrance exam on the lines of the USMLE such that the only role of the govt in pvt universities and pvt unaided institutions is to admit students..but besides this the colleges will be free to set their fees and run autonomously
12.have horizontal state quotas of 50% in each college..
i guess it should be acceptable to all political parties except probably the OBC dravida parties but other wise it looks clear on the political side..the party which grabs this idea first will have the best chance of winning the (UR) vote bank which has been isolated and neglected.. also the dalit vote bank coz they get more.. and the muslim vote bank coz this kinda quota is wat they always wanted..this sholud be enough support for this idea to work even if some hardline OBC elements oppose the idea..
it will pass judicial scrutiny because these entitlements are not made solely on the basis of caste..they are by scientifically identifying the actual social and ecucationally backward classes (SEBC's) so will not voilate the mandal judgement or the previous balaji judgement or also the recent thakur judgement and it also wont violate the 50%cap
the nation will be saved of the dirty mandal politics and slowly caste equations will take a backseat and will no longer be the sole factor deciding the outcomes of elections and so that we can begin concentrating on real issues tht concern the nation..
ps. this is my first blog post evr.. i just had some random ideas which i wanted to organise.. excuse me for my poor writing skills..pls leave your comments and thoughts abt the issue.. if i feel i agree wit any of the comments then i will edit n incorporate it in my main article..
