The Supreme Court's Thursday judgement giving a green signal to the OBC quotas in educational institutes supported by the Central government has kicked up a huge storm.
While pro-reservation activists hailed it as a landmark step towards removing social inequities, those against the very idea of reservation have slammed the measure.
Dr Anirudh Lochan, one of the founder members of Youth For Equality forum, has been one such vocal figure, demanding an end to reservation in educational institutions.
In a webchat organised by IBNLive.com, Lochan spells out why the country doesn't need reservation.
Reproduced below is the full text of the chat.
Siddharth: I have read on some blogs that we now should fight for the General Quota. The politicians are once again guilty of passing down a decree without taking into account the chaos that will be brought about in the education system. The clash of Meritocracy vs Castocracy is now evident. Can we assume that this could be the start of another brain drain from India?
Dr Anirudh Lochan: Don’t assume. Brain drain is a reality. Almost half of my batchmates have already left because they were unable to find jobs or seats in higher courses. Do you know, every year, nearly 5 billion dollars are spent on such students by their parents? I think that it is time for people like you and me to enter this political system and fight not just for any particular section, but for the future of our country’s children as a whole.
Rahul: Is there anything that can be done now given that SC has given a decision in favour of quota? I am wondering if re-appealing might be of any help to any of us out here who favour meritocracy over casteism at the higher education level. Though would like to add, I am still in favor of a plan promoting education for the so-called "under-privileged" at the primary level to get them on par.
Dr Anirudh Lochan: Yes, you are right in thinking of a re appeal. We will once we are able to understand what exactly the judgement means. And yes, like you, I too am in favour of improving our primary education system, so that the root cause of inequality can be rooted out.
Cheena: Do you have plans for mass agitation with sort of non-alignment movement with all sections of society? What are alternate plans we can do for the people being oppressed by this policy?
Dr Anirudh Lochan: Not yet. What you mentioned is the last step that we will take if and when all legal options have been extinguished. As of now we are still hopeful of winning in the courts itself. If we fail, well then, we have shown the world what the youth of India can do if pushed into a corner.
Mohan: I want to know if this observation is also applicable in M.TECH -2008 admission in IIT ,NIT THIS YEAR. Although some IIT registration dates have closed and some are about to.
Dr Anirudh Lochan: I am sorry Mohan, but the exact details are still emerging. We are still to know the exact time frame for the quota process. Hopefully, we would know in a day or two.
Sandy: Hey, now it looks certain that this quota is here to stay for eternity. So how does YFE plan to move ahead? Any plans for moving the courts to ask govt to allow private sector to enter education sector? If yes what is the probability of seeing it through?
Dr Anirudh Lochan: Till the Left parties are in power, I don’t see this logical step happening. The right way forward is for the govt to concentrate on primary education and to leave higher education to the private sector, with scholarship programmes for the poor being started. That is the right way and we promise to keep fighting for it.
Vishal: Don’t you think that if the same trend is followed, then soon we will see reservation in private sector too which will affect our economic growth?
Dr Anirudh Lochan: Yes I do and that is why our organisation is still fighting. And I assure you, that in the end, YFE will emerge victorious.
David Mende: Why is the public in general having this mindset that the presence of OBCs will dilute the education? Are we not ready to give them their rightful share?
Dr Anirudh Lochan: Yes we are. But only to those who are genuinely backward and not to the kin of politicians like our railways minister. Reservation, if given to the genuine poor candidates, will only help the country in the long run.
Prakhar: Do you vote Dr. Anirudh?
Dr Anirudh Lochan: Yes I do. And having seen the status of today’s politicians, I have also decided to contest in elections soon enough. I hope others also do the same.
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Gaurav: Why don’t you ever talk about tackling caste-based discrimination if you are so much about 'equality'? Is equality only reflected in reservations for you? Colleges like AIIMS and UCMS are made the worst ghettos for SC/ST students. People like Venugopal make sure that SC/STs are harassed to no end...where is YFE on such occasions?
Dr Anirudh Lochan: First things first, Gaurav. I am an OBC myself and as for your question, and your anger, inequalities and discrimination on the basis of caste is a reality and yes it does exist even to this day. And it will continue till the root cause of these is not rooted out. There are still 120 million children who do not attend school. Millions suffer from malnutrition – till the time these gross inequalities are wiped out, class tensions will remain. And please do remember that Indians as a whole, due to their backwardness, were humiliated and called beggars in all Western countries. That has stopped today. Why? Did we ask for respect to be reserved for us? No. We are now respected because we have achieved economic and educational might on the basis of our blood and sweat. It is my personal belief that given the right facilities, students of all categories can compete on their own, and earn the respect of everyone, including their colleagues.
Shiva: Hi Anirudh, Greetings from Hyd... I have two questions for u 1)Do u think the quality of higher education going to degrade with this reservation policy?
2) What can be done to prevent any further increase in reservation in future? Do you have any plans for the future?
Dr Anirudh Lochan: Yes it will and the govt also thinks the same, for they have kept certain institutions like the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing and The National Brain Research Centre out of reservation, citing a threat to national interests! Ironical that sub-standard scientists are a threat to national interests and sub-standard doctors and engineers are not. Our organisation will keep on fighting till our last days of existence but will not allow anyone to harm our country’s future. I for one will not let my country down. Neither would you, I am sure.
Amod: Shouldn't reservation be for economically backward and not historically backward which is now invalid?
Dr Anirudh Lochan: Yes it should be and that is the main reason as to why we founded YFE in the first place. We have to make these dumb politicians understand that the youth of today can see through their lies.
Chandra: Don’t you think reservation impacts medical students more than engineering or management students? I reckon this is because fewer seats which in turn is related to fewer faculty and facilities?
Dr Anirudh Lochan: Reservation affects the future of this country as a whole. So please don’t play into the hands of these politicians and divide the youth of this country on the basis of their profession.
Shyam Sharma: Dear Dr. Anirudh, Good afternoon I have only one combat plan for the YFE. You move one application in Supreme Court seeking direction from the Apex Court that they should make all seats in Parliament be reserved so that these so-called messiahs of OBC should realise the pinch. Supreme Court should also make a provision that caste-based treatment should also be started. We should have 4 doctors in the OPD and the patients should be treated by their caste-wise doctors.
Dr Anirudh Lochan: Please don’t talk like that. This is what the politicians want that we Indians should start fighting amongst ourselves. Can’t you see that all they are interested is their own interests and not caring about the future of India? If you want to hurt them then have the courage to hit where it hurts them most. I plan to campaign against them and make them lose in the elections. What about you?
Manick: What about GC people who are poor? Who will take care of them?
Dr Anirudh Lochan: The most important question about which no one is bothered. The fact is that the poor amongst the GC are not a big vote bank. At least that is what the politicians think. And this will continue till the GC don’t start participating in the political process. The very basis for our insistence on economic criterion is that poor belong to every caste, and not just the so-called backward classes. And I promise to keep fighting for you my till last breath.
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Sashi: When we vehemently talk about the importance of merit and equality in education, why don’t we take the cause against rich and well-off buying seats through capitation fee? Don’t you think merit is compromised in favour of the wealthy there Mr.Lochan?
Dr Anirudh Lochan: Yes it is and I totally agree with you. But you do realise that two wrongs do not make a right. Most of these private colleges are anyway owned by politicians who claim to work for the poor. I would love to fight on this front as well, but sadly, not all students think like you and me.
RR: The Supreme Court said 27% reservation should not be given to PG courses. Does this mean IIMs, AIIMS's PG courses, IIT's MTech are out of this verdict?
Dr Anirudh Lochan: That is the biggest controversy. And one on which sadly I cannot comment right now. We are in touch with our team of lawyers to understand the ramifications of this statement.
Vinod: What’s the POA now? 'Creamy Layer'.... can we define it based on economical conditions of the person...does the ruling detail about it?
Dr Anirudh Lochan: Good afternoon. Sorry for making you wait for so long. Let me answer the last question first. The creamy layer concept was laid down by the courts more than a decade ago. They are based on not just economic criterion but also on the occupation of the head of that candidate’s family. Children of doctors, legislators, writers, journalists, lawyers etc all are included in this list. And yes, the ruling mentions all of it. As for the POA, well I am in touch with students from all over the country. A collective decision will take some time. But first we must exhaust all legal options before we reach the streets again.
Vishal: Will the exclusion of creamy layer in OBC reservation have any positive effect on General category students?
Dr Anirudh Lochan: Well that is the million-dollar question! To begin with, the amount of frustration that general category students feel when they lose their seats to a student just because his caste name belongs to a backward caste will go down. The irony of students taking up reservation after passing out of DPS RK Puram like top notch schools will certainly help ease some pain.
Mohan: Can we envisage a situation where an alternative model of affirmative action could be forged through market forces, say build up of centres of excellence like the Ivy League, where merit as well as economic considerations weigh, and nothing gets compromised through political machinations, like caste-based reservation?
Dr Anirudh Lochan: Good afternoon Mohan. Yes I do believe that having centres based on market criterion is a logical way forward. But the problem is not as to what can be done, rather what our politicians want to do. The Mandal Commission had also recommended similar criteria, but the politicians only chose the easiest and worse solution.
AK Sharma: Why with over 200 MPs of general category (GC) in Parliament, none speaks for the GC? Why should the GC voters vote for the present GC MPs in next election?
Dr Anirudh Lochan: Good afternoon, I cannot help but agree and empathise with your anger against our short-sighted lawmakers. However, at the same time, you should understand that these politicians care only for communities that vote and that too in full strength. The middle class of our country still treats election day as a holiday. People who understand the flaws of the reservation policy just do not bother to vote. If you and educated Indians like you want to be heard, then we first have to start raising our voices not just through blogs but by entering the political process not just as voters but possibly also as candidates. We have to fight this battle on our own. I hope you will agree.
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