Sunday, June 08, 2008
Re: New Exam pattern in India (Revised)
my personal experience differs on the "abilities" of people given reservations.
almost none of the "reserved" category students in my batch at iit/iim (both) could get even to the half way mark in terms of ranking, when compared on a like to like basis against the general category students - which was the actual internal exams, where there were no reservations / caste based marking scheme.
i'm all for reservations, but definitely not at the post graduate level. even at the graduate level, i think there is a flimsy case to promote need over merit.
if at all reservations are needed, they should be at the primary/high school levels. from then on (grad/post grad/doc etc.), people really need to be fighting for their own survival basis their capabilities - at least a sports quota has some benefit to the institute, in much the same way as "donations" do.
i think there was some talk about public schools in delhi being forced to keep a certain number of seats for the poorer section of society, who could not afford it (columba's and most other missionary schools do implement something of this sort anyway). i think thats a significantly better way to address the inequality, than taking the silver spoon from one mouth and shoving it into another.
thanks to the "reservation" scheme of things, people trying to get into higher education on merit are now at a disadvantage, and soon might need reservations themselves.
my 2 cents.
On Thu, Jun 5, 2008 at 2:58 PM, Tino de Sa wrote:
Dear Albert:I know that you have sent this mail in good faith, and as a well-meaning jest without malicious intent, and so please don't take what I am saying personally.However, I think that putting this on a church-based google group is somewhat insensitive - and unfair. My reasons:The mail generally ridicules 'reservations'.But the truth is that several thousands of our Catholics have benefited from ST reservations - and I can vouch for the fact that in my experience I have found such beneficiaries second to none in their abilities and integrity, whereas the mail gives the impression that STs are so incapable that they need not even appear for exams!Insofar as SCs are concerned, as you may be aware, the official position of the Church, as well as laity-led Catholic groups (such as the Catholic Associations, Catholic Sabha etc.) has always been that so long as there exist reservations, they should not be religion-based, and that Catholic dalits too should be entitled to benefit from SC reservations (currently available only to Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist SCs).It has become somewhat fashionable for educated and well-placed Christians to ridicule the reservation policy. But we must not forget that with all its faults, it is still an instrument of social justice. The vast majority of Christians in India (some 60%) are either ST or of SC origin. While the ST benefits are available without relgious discrimination (so Christian tribals too can, and do, get the benefit), the SC benefits are religion-restricted, and Christian dalits are denied them.Without a doubt, the reservation policy needs to be reformed (such as, for example, introducing the 'creamy layer' principle, so that a small number of well off people do not 'corner' the benefits generation after generation, and they are spread more equitably among the most deprived among the deprived). But junking the whole policy lock, stock and barrel is not a socially desirable option. At least, that is not the position of official church organizations.The danger with ridiculing the reservation policy is that the status quo tends to be maintained, and with it, the injustice to Christians dalits. Simultaneously, it is insulting to Christian tribals who may have happened to get the benefit.That is the reason why I have 'reservations' about this 'joke' being circulated on a church e-group!No offence meant personally to anyone - and particularly not to Albert.Cheers!Tino
On 6/5/08, albert rigo wrote:
New Exam pattern in India (Revised):
1. General students - Answer ALL questions.
2. OBC - WRITE ANY one question.
3. SC - ONLY READ questions.4. ST - THANKS FOR COMING..
AND.
5. Gujjars- THANKS FOR ALLOWING OTHERS TO ATTEND THE EXAMINATION .. !!
CHEERS TO RESERVATION......========================================================================================================================
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