From: sundar@indigo1.hsis.uci.edu (M. Sundaramoorthy)
Subject: Reservations: Caste, Gender and Money
Newsgroups: soc.culture.tamil
Organization: University of California, Irvine
Date: 20 Aug 92 00:43:26 GMT

	I have two issues regarding reservation system in Tamil Nadu and
admission procedure in educational institutions. It is surprising that both
who oppose and support the system seem to be silent on these issues. So
I request either side to include these in your discussions which should
add more value to the discussion. The issues are:

	(1). Reservations for women in educational institutions and
	(2). Management quota in self financed educational institutions.

(1). RESERVATION FOR WOMEN:

One of the first thing the DMK goverment did after winning elections in 1988
was announcing 30% reservation for women. It was one of the promises in DMK's
election manifesto. There was no criticism from the press and there was no
agitation by students or menfolks. The only comment was some popular 
'intellectuals' mocked at Karunanidhi that he was trying to woo the women 
voters who were otherwise supporters of MGR (as if the entire women electorate
is after MGR). 

Both gender and caste based discrimination has been in existence in our long
history. Both should be eliminated by some means and reservation is considered 
to be one of those. 

My questions are:

	(1). While there is lot of hue and cry from the 'forward castes' for 
	caste  based reservation, calling it a reverse discrimination, why
	is there no similar cry from men, 'the affected section'?.

	(2). While there is a 'concern' about nation building, which the 
	opponents of caste based reservation claim is affected by reservation
	becuase 'meritorious candidates' excluded, why is there no such 
	criticism on gender based reservation?.

	(3). The opponents point out that there are many rich and socially
	well off people in the so called backward castes. Are there no 
	rich and socially advanced women?.

	(If there are any other reasons, which  I didn't say here, for opposing
	caste based reservations, extend them to gender based reservation also).  

(II). MANAGEMENT QUOTA 

During MGR's rule lot of self financed private professional colleges were 
permitted all over Tamil Nadu. The number of new colleges are more than the 
old ones. Only 50% of the seats are filled by the government with usual 
criteria, like +2 marks, entrance exam score and of course, reservation. 
The rest 50% is for the management to fill. That is the managements are  
free to auction those seats and award to the highest bidder. Obviously, only 
rich people can buy these seats and this is a sheer commecialisation of 
education. (Recently, the Tamil Nadu government gave back the Sri 
Ramachandra Medical college to the private management, which was earlier
taken over by the goverment during DMK regim).

My questions are:

	(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?.

	(2). While the opponents cry that merit is overlooked in caste based
	reservation system, where is the merit in capitation fee system?.

	(3). While the opponents press that caste reservations reduce the 
	standard of education, does the commercialisation of education
	increase the standard?.

	(Extend any other reasons for opposing caste reservations to 'money
	reservations' also).		

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.

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.

A netter asked that unreserved seats should be reserved for the forward castes.
What Periyar proposed in 'Kanchipuram Congress Conference' was a similar one:
He called it 'vaguppuvaari pirathinithiththuvam'. That means each caste will
be given representation according to the proportion of their strength. In such
a situation, brahmins who are 3% in population will get 3% reservation. Will
brahmins be happy with en exclusive 3% reservation for them?.

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. 

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. Guess who?. Of 
course, there will be a government representative, from Harijan wefare dept 
(I am not sure about the exact name), who will be 'properly treated' to nod 
his head for whatever decision the interview committee makes. This practice 
is common in central institutions.

My stand on reservaions:

	I support caste reservation as long as there is reservation for women 
	and vice versa.

	I support caste reservation as long as education is commercialised.

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

	
To make the system fair and effective:

	(1). Reservation should be made possible only for one or two 
	generations in an household, such that others from those castes can 
	benefit.

	(2). There should be statistical survey periodically to decide how much
	'backward' people became 'forward' and a corresponding  proportion of 
	should be dereserved.

	(3). There should be a concerted campaign to let the people concerned 
	know about the system, like the one for family planning. Simply making 
	rules do not help and it is merely an eyewash. 


This will be my last posting on 'reservations' and I stand by those opinions.
Whether to continue or not the discussion is upto others. 

M. Sundaramoorthy
Newsgroups: soc.culture.tamil,soc.culture.indian