Author: HT Correspondents
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: April 7, 2006
Introduction: IIMs & IITs seethe at quota,
medical colleges may be next
The re-emergence of the Mandal regime a la
Arjun Singh has not gone down too well with the concerned parties - educators
and students.
While some lashed out openly against the HRD
ministry's proposed move to enforce 27 per cent reservation in central government-funded
educational institutions, others were muted in their criticism.
The criticism could mount further if the government goes ahead with its plan
to extend the quota rule to medical colleges. Sources say the proposal of
27 per cent reservation to OBCs will be considered for all government institutes
like AIIMS.
Once implemented, the new policy will take
the overall reservation in central government-funded higher education institutions
from 22.5 to 49.5 per cent. With half the seats set to be reserved, most of
the affected institutes are seething. Most felt that it would be impossible
to drum up the additional resources and faculty needed to cater to the increased
student intake that Arjun Singh envisages.
Those who head IITs and IIMs refused to comment
- saying they were vet to receive any communication from the government -
but several senior functionaries at these institutions were furious.
"Quota is a negative approach,"
said Hari Shankar Singhania, chairperson, IIM-Lucknow. A teacher said, "By
and large everybody agrees that this is a step in the wrong direction."
A senior faculty member said if the OBC quota was enforced in the IIMS, quality
would be the first casualty Another teacher said efforts were being made to
consult other IIMs and take their opinion on the issue.
An HM Lucknow professor told HT: "If
you relax standards to fill quotas, will the students who come in through
this reservation be able to cope with the high standards at the IITs and IIMS?
Since these students will be of a lower academic standard, the overall standards
of education will suffer."
At IIM-Ahmedabad, student media representative
Rahul Roushan said, "If nearly 50 per cent seats are reserved, then competition
for entry would be very tough. It's already very tough to get in here."
But the director of IIT-Delhi, Rajendra Prasad,
said they would "comply" if the government had taken a decision.
In Delhi, most officials of Delhi University,
JNU and Jamia Millia Islamia said they were yet to hear from the Centre on
the OBC quota issue. They said, however, they would have to implement it if
a directive in this regard was issued.
Manoj Khanna, a member of DU's academic council,
said the move would worsen the situation, because students with poor results
would be competing with those with better results.
Quota Quandary
IIM Lucknow chairperson Hari Shankar Singhania says: "Quota is a negative
approach"
IIT director Rajendra Prasad (Delhi) says
his institute will have to comply if govt has taken a decision
Student Angle
"If 50 p.c. seats are reserved, then
competition for entry will get even tougher competition for entry will get
even toughter"
- Rahul Roushan, IIM Ahmedabad
"With limited seats and 50 p.c. reserved,
what chance do I stand?'
- Madhuri Singh, IIIrd year DU student.
