From: sridhar@enuxhb.eas.asu.edu (Sridhar Venkataraman)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.tamil
Subject: Re: Reservations: Caste, Gender and Money
Date: 20 Aug 92 13:56:00 GMT
Organization: Arizona State University, Tempe AZ

sundar@indigo1.hsis.uci.edu (M. Sundaramoorthy)
writes on soc.culture.tamil:

)(1). RESERVATION FOR WOMEN:

As far as I am aware of, no such things exist for admissions to Engg.
colleges. Look at your own University policy on jobs, you might have
some understanding on why it is done. It is for ensuring adequate
representation without compromising quality. The keyword there is
quality.

)(II). MANAGEMENT QUOTA 

)	(1). While the opponents make hue and cry about making caste, ie
)	social backwardness, as the criterian for reservation, what do they
)	think about making money, ie. economic forwardness, as the criterian
)	in this case?.

One minor point. The private professional colleges are not funded in
any way by the govt. What is the way to sustain the college
facilities? Case in point: My own Univ. (or for that matter, any
Univ.). Whenever the state funding is cut do they not raise tuition.
Does the money come from nowhere in the case of those private
colleges? I am not going to argue whether it is right or wrong to open
such colleges in the first place.BUT the quality of facilities is
being ensured somewhat which was illustrated by the closure of a whole
CS dept in 2 colleges 2 yrs back. Some private colleges (like Crescent
near Madras) have really shown the way how Engg. colleges can work
well without Govt. intervention. After all you can see the results of
it during placement right?

)A student who got in the college through caste reservation can also get a job 
)by the same system. Similarly, a student who got in college with money can 
)also get a job with money.

This I am not in agreement with. Do you think people can bribe their way
into private companies etc. After all that is where India's
productivity is happening, right?

)While there are many other castes than brahmin, like veLLaaLar, chettiyaar (of
)all kinds), reddy, kamma, balija, christians etc. the opposition is mostly from
)brahmins.

The no. of entries in the BC section is exponentially increasing. Infact
you may be surprised to hear that some of the castes you mentioned may
be able to claim 'BC' privileges.

)Will brahmins be happy with en exclusive 3% reservation for them?.

I will not comment on this since I will regret commenting on this on a
public medium. IMO, people on this medium are more emotional rather
than well-reasoned. Briefly, I agree on it BUT there is a big if
attached to it.

)I don't think they would. They want the reservations be totally abolished, 
)rather than having reservation for themselves. If it happens, the pattern will
)change to that exist in central government offices and institutions. 

Please state facts. I have hordes of relatives working for P&T (incl.
my father) and all I can say is that you have made an unsubstantiated 
statement. In Meenan's style,:-) where are the references?

)In central jobs, it is not just the merit that works, but also nepotism and 
)favouritism. Even the 'reserved' positions are eventually dereserved to be 
)filled with candidates of their choise. There is a loophole: if no 'suitable 
)candidate' is available for the postion in first three calls, fourth call will 
)include a line, 'general candidates can also apply'. Deciding the suitability 
)of the candidates is in the hands of those in high positions. 
[unsubstantiated generalization deleted]

Just consider this point: Let us say that in an office some works
needs to be done within a given period. Would you want to keep the
job unfilled when there is a suitable candidate for the job. Do you
term it as a 'loophole'. Do you think compromising quality is going to
be the solution in that case?

)	I support caste reservation as long as education is commercialised.

Heck, you can get an admission in a US Univ and come with money in
your pocket. You don't need a good GRE score, you don't need a good
GPA. Does it make the person as qualified as the next person? Infact
some depts. in our Univ. have opted to ask a distinguished Indian
Prof. to decide the suitability of Indian applicants. 

)	I support caste reservation as long as there corruption, nepotism
)	and favourtism exist in our political and bueracratic system.

That is an oxymoron I would say. The political and bureaucratic system
was intended that way (My perceptions of corruption, nepotism and
favouritism comes from the experiences of my relatives) in the first
place and it is no use blaming it. 

)To make the system fair and effective:

I have no hope and I only hope that TN will show the other states what
not to do. After all it is only going to take a few more years to see
the results of the reservation system in full bloom. 

)M. Sundaramoorthy

It might help clarify what you mean by 'Central Govt. positions'. 
Generalizations certainly doesn't help.

Sridhar.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.tamil