Who is Responsible?
- Part 2 -

Mohen Naorem *

According to Poknapham News Service, Prof Ch Amuba, the Vice Chancellor of the Manipur University was reported to have said, "Being a Central University, the Manipur University has to follow the guidelines and rules as laid down by UGC. There is no provision for any changes in its reservation quota." He also appeals to the agitating students not to disturb the academic atmosphere of the University.

On the contrary, the protesting students have intensified the demands by mobilizing for massive rally at New Delhi on October 10 to show solidarity to the Manipur tribal students' demands. In continuation of the protests, thousand of students took out a march in the headquarters of the four hill districts of Chandel, Churachandpur, Tamenglong and Ukhrul. They have even demanded the removal of the VC and the Registrar of MU.

These students group have also submitted a memorandum to the President of India, Smt Pratibha Patil and also planning to meet the Prime Minister, Shri Manmohan Singh for their demands.

Both the Scheduled Castes and Tribes are accorded reservations in the fields of political representation, government services and education. The Constitution under Article 335 provides for the reservation of seats for SC and ST in services and posts under the Central government. However, there is no fixation of a set percentage of jobs in the Constitution for these communities.

Secondly there is no fixed period – unlike political reservations – for the continuity of this preferential treatment. The Article simply says that the claims of the members of these communities shall be taken into consideration, consistently with the maintenance of efficiency of administration in the making of appointments.

This clearly suggests that everything have been left to the discretion of the Central Government. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also issued relevant notifications to this effect from time to time. Therefore, the government may decrease, increase or even stopped reservation system any time.

The Constitution does not say that the state must discriminate in favour of the ST or SC. If the demand for 34.2 per cent is accepted, it will be a Pandora box opening in the country. We should rethink the consequences and further agitations by other castes like SC or OBC.

We should also know clearly that there is no fundamental right to protection against discrimination. It is just a concession and favour duly sanctioned by the Constitution.

At present the students from ST category are enjoying freeships and also entitled for a number of stipends and scholarships to relive them from the financial burden of education which the general category never enjoyed. Besides, crores of rupees have been allotted for the development and welfare of ST students every year.

Thomas Sowell in his book, "Preferential Policies: An International Perspective 1990" clearly said that neither the nation concerned nor the special target groups have benefitted from such policies in the manner indicated by policymakers. According to him the real beneficiaries are a lot of clever politicians and a small number of elite members of the target groups.

It is an experience felt in India and Manipur for decades. Only those Tribals who lives in and around the capital Imphal are getting every opportunity meant for whole tribal welfare in the state.

As a true citizen of the country these protesting student leaders should reconsider their approach in a proper and meaningful way. They are acting in terms of what suits them at the moment and not in terms of the wider or long-range interests of the country.

Several students from the general class (unreserved) are of the opinion that reservation of quota in education churns out many inefficient educated class of academicians. Now they are breaking every norm to get jobs through quota system (more seats).

If they are confident of their talents, they should compete in the general quota too. What will be the use of so much freeships, scholarships and grants they enjoyed during their student life if they can't even compete without quota?

There are many free coaching classes for students of ST, SC and OBC to appear in any central government jobs like the Indian Civil Services, Staff Selection Commission and various banking examinations. If these protestors are still looking for more per cent of quota, there is no use of spending so much national wealth for them.

According to a national survey, 30 per cent of rural people in the country comprises of upper class. Village consists of both the lower and upper class. The economic conditions of the upper class might not be much better than the so called lower class due to the fact that India's rural areas are generally not developed and lack in basic infrastructures and education and health facilities.

Shockingly, 25 per cent of upper classes are illiterates and 65 per cent upper classes income is below Rs 525 per month. Hence, it is unfair to exclude the poor amongst the upper classes and it is also unfair not to exclude the rich and influential amongst the lower classes.

Instead of demanding for more quotas, there should be a movement to check whether every member of the ST or SC categories are getting their rights and special provisions provided to them by Constitution. The government must strictly cross-checked that how many members in a particular family are getting the benefits from quota system.

Just like excluding the creamy layers from Other Backward Classes, there should be an amendment to exclude creamy layers from either the ST or SC too. There should be clear cut modalities for the removal of the creamy layers for the list of ST beneficiaries – exclusion of those families of salaries person whose annual income exceed Rs 4-5 lakhs, landowners with more than 5 acres of land and business people with taxable income exceeding 4-5 lakhs.

The protestors and student leaders should try every step to make the issue a meaningful which is valid and widely acceptable throughout the country.

There should not be another Mandal commission where students resort to self immolations.

Concluded.....

Related Article on Reservation:

• Timeline on Reservation issue in Manipur University