We need Quality and not Quota

Kapil Sibbal, new HRD Minister has again promised to implement OBC quota in private colleges and institutes.

Arjun Singh tried his best to get popularity by providing reservation but he failed totally and ultimately in his old age he has been sidelined by Congress High Command.

If Kapil Sibbal also behaves like Arjun Singh and talks of only reservation instead of making efforts for creation of jobs he will also be rejected by people of India very soon.
Mere provision of reservation without creating opportunities of job is meaning less exercise and it is nothing but a cruel joke with unemployment youth and in fact it is not less than cheating with unemployment youths of the country.

Similarly in academic institutes if the learned advocate cries for reservation for OBC it will again help in further deterioration of quality of education in the country. Reservation only for merit can be in the interest of the country. If at all the minister is serious for the betterment of poor and middle class who cannot afford quality education the minister should help them by money or try to streamline the fee structure.

In our country educational institutes are working as terror camps and the owners are working as hardcore terrorists. Students and their parent are exploited. Fee burden has been increasing day by day. Other than rich person constituting hardly 5% of population cannot afford education in MBA or Engineering or Medical colleges. Not to talk of higher education, even higher secondary schools and primary schools have started asking donations and realizing exorbitant fees. There is as such no use of quota as long as fees are left unregulated.

As a matter of fact most of the elite colleges and schools providing quality education are owned by and run by kith and kin of MPs, MLAs, Ministers, and Government Officers. A few of them are owned by other businessmen or professionals. This is why ministers never talk of reduction in fees. They never try to make fees affordable and reasonable. They do not try to exploitation of students. They talk of reservation, reformation and social inclusion but in fact they are real cheaters for voters. At best they may put pressure on school management to admit son and daughter of their relatives.

It is also true that no fees are charged from students or very nominal fees are charged in government schools and colleges or somewhere even in government aided institutes. But unfortunately there is study at all. Only children of poorest among poor are admitted there for name sake and finally the child learns nothing but bad habits.

Minister therefore need to admit their wards in government schools so that they may understand the real pain of poor and then they visualize making efforts for rejuvenating government or government aided schools , colleges and institutes.

Free mid –day meal or free books under Sarva Sikchha Abhiyan has proved to be futile exercise and has completely failed in achieving the targeted goal. Those person who are powerful and effective in their area have simply looted the fund under the popular schemes and real poor are still deprived of quality education though our country is now 62 years old and so many popular schemes by various governments have been launched after freedom. Really, pathetic position of education in our country is very much painful and gives only disappointment to common men.

I therefore pray Kapil Sibbal to come out of traditional mindset of quota or reservation and do something new. Education is nothing but the backbone, real oxygen, and pure blood for sound standing, growth and survival of the country.

30th May 2009
Danendra Jain
Ganaraj Choumuhani
Agartala 799001