Chronicles of Kanjisheik

[This is the Manifesto released by the students of JIPMER which enumerates the reasons that led them to protest against the hike in reservation quota.]

Firstly, no organization, government or otherwise has accurate facts as to the population size likely to benefit or get adversely affected because of such a law. The details of the census done in 2001 is still not public knowledge. So the majority of us would like to know how the government decided that a particular percentage of the populace receive benefits of the reservation?

Secondly, although some state governments have similar sized quotas on lines of the proposed bill, there has been no such recent demands for implementing recommendations of the mandal commission in central government institutes. The government, 2 years ago, had increased the pool of all India medical post-graduate seats to give most students a level playing field at the national level, by taking away seats from state medical colleges to the tune of 50%. Through the logistics have not been worked out yet, this would negate the efforts to give students a better chance to vie for seats in prestigious institutes.

Thirdly, reservations have been enshrined in the constitution, and now we will have more quotas that will have us more divided. Presuming that our literacy levels have improved over the decades, and a small chunk of the literate populace is expected to compete for seats in premier institutes, would it be too much to ask for a public referendum on the issue? This is still assuming that, education in professional streams have helped us forget out narrow-mindedness regarding divisions based on community or religion.

Fourthly, can the government deny or accept that reservations have helped bring a sea social change among reserved categories? It is common knowledge that urban India constituting one third of the populace has benefited most from the reservation policy. The government appraises the public that reservations are required for social empowerment. If the government declares that the reservations have indeed benefited the needy, would it dare decrease quotas already covered in the constitution, that is reviewed every 10 years without a murmur? Or does the government accept that social empowerment has never happened and more reservation is justified to achieve this goal? Does that mean with the diamond jubilee of Indian independence approaching, the government has failed to ensure that reservations reached the most deserving? So how will a new set of quotas serve its purpose? Does social reform occur only by reservation in institutes of professional learning?

Fifthly, with voices from the government still undecided on the creamy layer of likely beneficiaries, it must be reminded that every group has creamy layer that would float above the rest, come what may! Alternatives like economic status or rural dwelling (with poor access to education) are possible criteria, which may be more need based and an acceptable solution to most people. Wouldn’t that stop the government’s own constituents and affected students from the constant squabbling over the blanket cover provided and being about an amicable solution at the negotiation table, instead of declarations that merit is diluted or demos that menial jobs are fits only for certain castes. Whatever the selection process, every student has the same pass% criteria at time of completion of the course.

Sixthly, it is not a well kept secret that atleast in central government medical institutes that, the majority of faculty belong to elite communities , while they are nearly invisible among the staff of group D. one might argue that they have joined service 15-20 years ago, but it doesn't change the facts. The government's idea to change this kind of social inequalities by reservations are commendable, but should come with a caveat. Individuals from these underprivileged classes should benefit from schooling , financial support and reservations to compete with the general stream. But it should be stressed to these individuals especially in professional arenas because of reservation, that subsequent generations stop claiming further benefits, thereby enhancing chances of their community brethren who still haven't tasted the fruits of a quota. But would educated men and women come forward to forgo their quotas?

Seventhly, it has been claimed that that reservation in states like Tamilnadu has caused improvement in health services. Constituting just over 5 % of the Indian population, is it possible to extrapolate this to the rest of the nation, where complex socio-economic dynamics exist? It must be remembered among students in HSS in Tamilnadu, the issues of quotas and its benefits are virtually ingrained, that they are mentally prepared for the available opportunities that they are eligible for. This may explain the relatively mute protests in these parts of the country, compared to vociferous voices of protests elsewhere that have erupted due to sudden imposition of quotas. Also a high percentage of seats in PG and super specialty courses, for service candidates in Tamilnadu ensures that they have a working health care system going, while other states languish without doctors in the primary health services and forces them to impose laws seeking bonds from undergraduate students like in the case of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. These are reservations of a different kind but extracts maximum benefit for the public whom we ultimately serve.

Eighthly, to borrow an idea, there is no gene theory in of merit or intelligence., in our country with so much socio-economic disparities, ones birth, family environment, schooling and kind of peer pressure decide whether you could make it to the top; reservations are a must for the people who have some or all the above going against them. We are not striking work to protest against reservations, but the mode of deciding beneficiaries and its continuation without any evaluation or assessment regarding the targets achieved.

Ninthly, none of students protesting in the country are fighting for seats in private medical colleges that could come under the preview of the same law. We protest for seats that are highly subsidized and virtually free, especially in the central institutes. On completion many of us embark on the next plane bound westward after throwing tantrums on the lack of adequate learning opportunities but spending a tidy sum to reach our destination. The government should not subsidies education or reserve seats based on community but only for the economically challenged or otherwise. Claims about reservation on an economic basis apart, will people wanting uniformity in selection process in central government institutes pay the actual cost to the exchequer and let the government help the needy through subsidies in the reserved category?

Finally, we are sad to notice the apathy with which no member of the union government has actually visited striking students to seek their grievances for more than a week especially after the police brutality, in person. The oft repeated request for the prime minister to make a definitive statement is still pending. We must reiterate that we are not against reservations but against the manner and selection of beneficiaries without any means or criteria to evaluate its effectiveness. We do support reservations that are truly economic or other criteria based that doesn’t fracture our secularity and unity that is still preserved in some institutes like ours. We decided to strike in order to demand that the government reviews the entire proposed hike, not by a group of ministers but by an expert panel that would ensure social equality through the upliftment of the suppressed as the government hopes to and not remain steadfast in the theory that it can do no wrong.