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When the IIMs wanted to increase the fees for its courses two years ago, the
Human Resource Development (HRD) minister of the then NDA government, Dr Murli
Manohar Joshi refused. After the UPA government came into power, IIMs found a
knight in shining armor in Arjun Singh, the new HRD minister. Singh allowed the
fee hike.
Two years later, the same Singh has suggested reservation and quotas for
backward classes in premier institutions such as IITs, IIMs and Central
Universities, and even in the private sector employment.
What has changed in the two years for Singh to sing a different tune?
 While this is not a space for statistics, most people would agree that Team
India is on forward march, if not on a roll. Nothing to do with UPA, NDA, UDF,
LDF, Singh, Joshi, et al. It is just that India is a force and going forward,
will strengthen its position. It is clear that Singh's change of mind has
little to do with progress or lack of progress. It is more like a political
maneuver that serves the purpose of a few.
Many prominent people in society have already spoken their minds about
Singh's move. The tone in most cases is that reservation in the private sector
is an ill-advised one. And while our industry leaders do not appreciate the
reservation, they are equally quick to point out that the condition of the
disadvantaged needs to be improved. The need to be politically correct does not
stop with the politicians after all.
It is clear that the economic condition of certain sections of the population
needs to improve. That is a no-brainer. It is also clear that the growth of the
Indian economy has to be driven by the private sector. Both these are macro
issues and not in conflict with each other. If the private sector has to grow,
it will have to involve most sections of the work force either directly or
indirectly. In other words, if the private sector contributes significantly to
the growth of the economy, it will invariably contribute to the improved welfare
of the less privileged.
That begs the question, why force a move when it is not needed? Allow the
private sector to grow unfettered and they will have to involve all the classes
whether they like it or not. That is market dynamics. The government should
concentrate on education and infrastructure. We have had more than fifty years
of reservation and we can debate endlessly what it has achieved or not achieved.
Let's not look behind and worse still, not walk backwards. Instead, all of us
need to think global. We need to concentrate on issues that will help us become
a global power. We are no longer Indians, but proud Global Indians. Even if all
of us cannot think globally, let us allow the private sector to do that. Give
them accelerators and not inhibitors.
Singh blames the media for blowing this issue out of proportion. Maybe so,
but it is clear that Singh has caught the attention. Who knows, may be it is a
well-orchestrated move of the UPA while the state elections are on. Let's not
forget it is not the global Indian or India shining that brought UPA to power.
Time will tell whether Singh will backtrack in a while, or whether we will need
a Joshi to undo a Singh. In the meanwhile lets do what we have to do.
Abraham Mathew, CyberMedia News
mail@dqindia.com Page(s) 1
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