Tuesday, May 30, 2006

My Writeup: Has the government lost Moral responsibilities?

Oh my God, Please save my motherland.

Yes, thats exactly what I feel everytime the Govt of India takes a stand in various matters that would shape the future of the land and its people.

After its 2nd anniversary, the UPA Govt, (headed by Congress), brought in the reservations, that so much divide the people based on caste. 60 years since the British left our shores, Indian govt., still follows the same method of running the govt, forcing a divide amongst its people. Gone are thoughts of moral responsibilites to investigate a better way of bringing in reservations that would be Quality centric.

Now, the Office of Profit bill. (http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/31/stories/2006053123200100.htm). Following expulsion of Sonia Gandhi (Congress chief) and few other Members of Parliament (MP), the ruling party has created a bill that would side track 56 positions within the Govt., that can be held by the MPs. The bill got passed in both the houses of the Parliament. But, the President of India did not accept the bill in its current state. Stating that the bill lacked uniformity and a standard that could be applicable to all states and union territories of the nation he has sent it back to the Parliament. This brings in great moral responsibility by the Govt., to amend it in a proper manner or withdraw the bill. But I wonder whether the current Govt., has any moral values at all?

Monday, May 29, 2006

My Writeup: Youth for Equality

Students all over Northern India have stepped up protests for the last 18 days. The strike is being pioneered by the medical students and faculty. Leading technical institutes like IITs have also joined in. These young brass - India's future are out on the streets with a cause thats so dear to their heart. I could feel that the words some of these students speak in News Channels are coming deep from within unlike the day's politians like Arjun Singh and Manmohan Singh who are hell bent on bringing the reservations and at the same time promoting the division in the Indian society based on Religion and caste.

Please go to the website below for reading on the cause
http://www.youth4equality.org/

They do have a Blog too.
http://yfemumbai.blogspot.com/

It took the government nearly 18 days to setup a independent commission to evaluate the need for quotas in the Indian society. And even at this time, I regret that they have done it to diffuse the protests and the hospital services that have been hit severly.

Stundents have gone on hunger strikes and even been beaten brutally by the police for staging peaceful protests in Mumbai. I hope and pray for the students and their cause to succeed

"Truth shall prevail" ("Satyameva Jayathe")

Sunday, May 21, 2006

My Writeup: Reservations in higher education - A retrospective

India since her independence has adopted a policy to set aside some percentage of its Govt. jobs and seats in Educational Institutes for the lesser priviledged in the society. In 1947 the lesser priviledged ones were classified based on caste discrimination that had existed then. After 60 years, the current Congress government has stepped up efforts to increase this percentage to 27%. Apart from this, the Prime Minister also has asked private companies to implement reservations in their recruitment process.

Below are some of the points that makes me rethink whether the current Indian Govt. is really looking at growth and development.

The best way to completely eliminate caste in the Indian society is to make the people forget it. With this new policy in place, the seeds of discrimation is reharvested in the Indian society.

Many families have benefitted from the reservation policies of India in the last 60 years. These families belonging to farmers, sheperds and low income holders from various sections of the society that come under the reservations section currently have their children in good economical position. Their families can not afford good education and are now on par with the rest of Indian families belonging to the so called upper castes. Continuing the reservations policies or expanding them, would only give an added advantage to this already improved families to secure seats in Medical, Engineering & Management Institutes securing lesser marks than the rest of the students.

This not only reduces the standard of education in the Education institutes but also shows us the Reservation policy is not benefitting the most deserved - The economically backward


Whats required now for India is Reservations

Surprised?
Well, the reservations I am advocating strongly for, is in Junior and High schools for the economically challenged. When 25% of seats in all schools (even in Private schools) till class 12 is reserved for the economically challenged, We not only ensure the kids apart from good grooming, get a good oportunity to improve their skills from the begining, but also at the same time ensure they can compete with the rest of the kids for seats in Higher Education Institutes.


This is what I call empowering the future of India. This is what I call raising standards of the average.


I just hope the Indian Government can see this.