Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Reservation — an alternative proposal

Satish Deshpande & Yogendra Yadav



THE ALTERNATIVE proposed here is rooted in the recognition that we need to go beyond a simple-minded reduction of `merit' and `social justice' to singular and mutually exclusive categories. In reality, both merit and social justice are multi-dimensional, and the pursuit of one does not require us to abandon the other. The proposal seeks to identify the viable common ground that permits simultaneous commitment to both social justice and excellence. It seeks to operationalise a policy that is morally justified, intellectually sound, politically defensible, and administratively viable.

Let us present the basic principles that underlie this proposal before getting into operational details. First of all, this proposal is based on a firm commitment to policies of affirmative action flowing both from the constitutional obligation to realise social justice and also from the overall success of the experience of reservations in the last 50 years. Secondly, we recognise the moral imperative to extend affirmative action to educational opportunities, for a lack of these opportunities results in the inter-generational reproduction of inequalities and severely restricts the positive effects of job reservations. Thirdly, it needs to be remembered that the end of affirmative action can be served by various means including reservation. The state's basic commitment is to the end, not any particular means. Finally, flowing from the experience of reservations for socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs), we need to recognise that there are multiple, cross-cutting, and overlapping sources of inequality of educational opportunities, all of which need redress. This is what our proposal seeks to do.

The proposal involves computing scores for `academic merit' and for `social disadvantage' and then combining the two for admission to higher educational institutions. Since the academic evaluation is less controversial, we concentrate here on the evaluation of comparative social disadvantage. We suggest that the social disadvantage score should be divided into its group and individual components. For the group component, we consider disadvantages based on caste and community, gender, and region. These scores must not be decided arbitrarily or merely on the basis of impressions. We suggest that these disadvantages should be calibrated on the basis of available statistics on representation in higher education of different castes/communities and regions, each of these being considered separately for males and females. The required data could come from the National Sample Survey or other available sources. It would be best, of course, if a special national survey were commissioned for this purpose.

Besides group disadvantages, this scheme also takes individual disadvantages into consideration. While a large number of factors determine individual disadvantages (family history, generational depth of literacy, sibling education, economic resources, etc.), we believe there are two robust indicators of individual disadvantage that can be operationally used in the system of admission to public institutions: parental occupation and the type of school where a person passed the high school examination. These two variables allow us to capture the effect of most of the individual disadvantages, including the family's educational history and economic circumstances.


In the accompanying tables, we illustrate how this scheme could be operationalised. It needs to be underlined that the weightages proposed here are tentative, based on our limited information, and meant only to illustrate the scheme. The exact weights could be decided after examining more evidence. We suggest that weightage for academic merit and social disadvantage be distributed in the ratio of 80:20. The academic score could be converted to a standardised score on a scale of 0-80, while the social disadvantage score would range from 0 to a maximum of 20.

Awarding social disadvantage points

Table A shows how the group disadvantage points can be awarded. There are three axes of group disadvantage considered here: the relative backwardness of the region one comes from; one's caste and community (only non-SC-ST groups are considered here); and one's gender. The zones in the top row refer to a classification of regions — this can be at State or even sub-State region level — based on indicators of backwardness that are commonly used and can be agreed upon. Thus Zone I is the most backward region while Zone IV is the most developed region. The disadvantage points would thus decrease from left to right for each caste group and gender.

The castes and communities identified here are clubbed according to broadly similar levels of poverty and education indicators (once again the details of this can be agreed upon). The lower OBCs and Most Backward Castes along with OBC Muslims are considered most disadvantaged or least-represented among the educated, affluent, etc., while upper caste Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Parsis, etc., are considered to be the most `forward' communities.

Disadvantage points thus decrease from top to bottom. Gender is built into this matrix, with women being given disadvantage points depending on their other attributes, that is, caste and region. Thus the hypothetical numbers in this table indicate different degrees of relative disadvantage based on all three criteria, and most importantly, also on the interaction effects among the three. Thus, a woman from the most backward region who belongs to the lower OBC, MBC, or Muslim OBC groups gets the maximum score of 12, while a male from the forward communities from the most developed region gets no disadvantage points at all.

Tables B and C work in a similar manner for determining individual disadvantage. For these tables, all group variables are excluded. Table B looks at the type of school the person passed his or her secondary examination from, and the size of the village, town, or city where this school was located. Anyone going to an ordinary government school in a village or small town gets the maximum of 5 points in this matrix. The gradation of schools is done according to observed quality of education and implied family resources, and this could also be refined. A student from an exclusive English medium public school in a large metro gets no disadvantage points.

Table C looks at parental occupation as a proxy for family resources (that is, income wealth, etc., which are notoriously difficult to ascertain directly). Since this variable is vulnerable to falsification and would need some efforts at verification, we have limited the maximum points awarded here to three. Children of parents who are outside the organised sector and are below the taxable level of income get the maximum points, and the occupation of both parents is considered. Those with either parent in Class I or II jobs of the government, or in managerial or professional jobs get no points at all. Intermediate jobs in the organised sector, including Class III and IV jobs in the government, are reckoned to be better placed than those in the unorganised, low pay sector.

Combining the scores in the three matrices will give the total disadvantage score, which can then be added to the standardised academic merit score to give each candidate's final score. Admissions for all non-SC-ST candidates, that is, for 77.5 per cent of all seats, can then be based on this total score.

Differences and advantages

While our proposal shares with the proposal mooted by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) the commitment to affirmative action and the desire to extend it to educational opportunities, the scheme we propose differs from the Ministry's proposal in many ways. The Ministry's proposal seeks to create a bloc of `reserved' seats. Our proposal applies to all the seats not covered by the existing reservation for the SC, ST, and other categories. The MHRD proposal recognises only group disadvantages and uses caste as the sole criterion of group disadvantage in educational inequalities. We too acknowledge the significance of group disadvantages and that of caste as the single most important predictor of educational inequalities. But our scheme seeks to fine-tune the identification by recognising other group disadvantages such as region and gender. Moreover, our scheme is also able to address the interaction effects between different axes of disadvantage (such as region, caste, and gender, or type of school and type of location, etc.).

While recognising group disadvantages, our scheme provides some weightage to individual disadvantages relating to family background and type of schooling. Our scheme also recognises that people of all castes may suffer from individual disadvantages, and offers redress for such disadvantages to the upper castes as well. While the MHRD proposal is based on an all-or-nothing approach to recognising disadvantages (either you are an OBC or you are not), our proposal allows for flexibility in dealing with variations in degrees of disadvantage.

The scheme we propose here is a modified version of one that was designed for the selection process of a well-known international fellowship programme for higher education, where it was successful for some years. Thousands of applications have already been screened using this scheme. A similar scheme has been used for admissions to Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The working of this scheme does not seem to offer any insurmountable operational difficulties, despite the vast expansion in scale that some contexts might involve.


In the final analysis, the most critical advantage of a scheme such as the one we are proposing is that it helps to push thinking on social justice along constructive and rational lines. One of the inescapable dilemmas of caste-based affirmative action policies is that they cannot help intensifying caste identities. The debate then gets vitiated because it concentrates on the identities rather than on the valid social reasons why those identities are used as indicators of disadvantage. Our scheme clearly links caste identities to measurable empirical indicators of disadvantage. It thus helps to de-essentialise caste and to focus attention on the relative progress made by these communities.

Thus groups such as Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, etc., occupy particular positions in this scheme purely by virtue of the levels of educational advantage or disadvantage. The scheme allows policies to be calibrated according to the changing relative positions of different groups, and takes care of such issues as poor upper castes, `creamy layer,' etc. It reminds us, in short, that caste or community matter not in themselves, but because they continue to be important indicators of tangible disadvantages in our unequal and unjust society.

(This proposal has been developed in consultation with many social scientists.)

http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/23/stories/2006052305841100.htm

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

King of the Stage, the Laxman steps down…



More than a decade ago, with a team of 6 from Prabhodini, we were conducting a Leadership camp at Thane; then I was in my 8th Grade, youngest in the group and bullied the most. Amidst my then version of ragging, the camp went smooth attended by 108 students. On the closing day, there was a chief guest, some local MLA I thought then, I was sent to the gate by my team members to guide the family members of students who had attended the camp towards the hall. After an hour of directing people, I decided to head back to the hall, on my entering I saw a young speaker, in his early 40s, speaking, the audience hypnotized by his words, and applauding every breath he took, my first encounter of the Thane MP, Mr. Pramod Mahajan.


Men, who shake hands with you, even without knowing you, leave a mark in your life that makes your eyes moist on their demise. Same is today with me.

A year after, On lazy afternoon in Goa, I watching the Lok Sabha proceedings on the TV, a man stands up, very familiar for his chance to speak, he gets up, and gains respect immediately, he speaks of his visit as a Member of Opposition to China along with then Congress Delegation there, in his candid oratory style in Hindi, he says that he introduced himself as being the member of the largest elected party and being in the opposition, and Mr. Ramakant Khalap, being the only elected candidate from “single-man party”; and now a Minister of Cabinet, “what a way to introduce Indian Politics” he asked.

I still remember the applause, I still remember how Ramakant Khalap was laughing, and still remember how we all laughed at home. I then remembered that voice, that face, it was Pramod Mahajan, and he was my inspiration.

A demise of a living inspiration is very uncomfortable, primarily because you realize they had so much to offer more.

It was election time in Goa, every time, I knew Pramod was in the state, I would board the buses, and chase him, just to listen to him. One day it happened much closer to my home, and much closer to my school then Mushtifund, and much closer to God, outside Mahalaxmi Temple, he stood on the stage, to speak, to enchant us, I crawled amidst the crowd to see him much close. Never looked where my feet were moving just his personality which took a different form when he spoke, when he spoke, there was a tone, which would build up, a words would follow a rhythm, they would extremely slow and then build up, he would end the momentum with killer statement, a statement that words were not such words it created an emotion, an emotion that would make you get Goose bumps.

He spoke in grand style that day, campaigning for the to be CM, Manohar Parikkar, still remember Pramod’s right hand pointing at the audience and saying ‘there are 3 types of voters, one who look at the Party and votes, second who look at the person and not the party and third who vote for a good person and a good party, at the doorstep of Mahalaxmi, we are seeing the rise of a personality unmatched ….Manohar Parikkar and for a party unmatched…...applause..applause..i don’t remember the next words, I was having goose bumps..

When he spoke he gave me goose bumps, when he has died he makes me feel the same. One thing for sure, may be he is now no more, to give me goose bumps. But He will remain in my mind as an inspiration, a king of the stage, a showman.

Only regret I have is, what I had dreamt, remains a dream, he was to take India as Prime Minister in the year 2020, when India was born again, as a developed nation. I thought it was he, who deserved to run the India Shining campaign again.

But as former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee says “Bina badlon ke bijli girne ki charcha hamne suni hai, Yahan apni akhon se Bharat ki tarunai ko puri tarah se viksit hone se pehle hi kaalchakra ne isko ham se cheen liya” meaning We have heard about the lightning strike without clouds, here with our own eyes we saw Youth of India being snatched away by fate even before it could developed fully.

Monday, May 01, 2006

A Story from Disturbed Conversation

On 30 April, while travelling from my workplace to City, in the bus i overheard a conversation which disturbed me to great extent. While returning back, i somehow met the same individual, and this time, i shared my expression of disturbance on the conversation. Foes intially, he told me he is into short story writing, and would mail me them.
I knew i would never read them, but i proved myself wrong, i did read it and feel like sharing with you,
Source: http://ndtv.com/ent/foodfictionstory.asp?id=945

The Rose
by: Vijayendra Haryal

Each morning as I took a walk to reach my office which was a ten minute walk from my home, I saw young men lined up in front of a shop. "Fresh Roses Sold Here " –The board read. I could see the anxiety on their faces as they stood there in a long line. I was surprised to see the ones coming out of the shop with roses in their hands had a glitter on their faces as if they are in a state of eternal bliss. I wondered why is this? What is so special about getting a rose? One day I decided to ask one of the guys standing in the long queue .I asked him why the guys waited for a long time to get the roses. I pointed out that there are other shops too in the city.The boy gave me a look which made me feel like a moron .I later got to know from the same guy that this shop was the best in the town .

The roses are the freshest and also carried the reputation of being lucky, hence making the demand excessive."What superstition!" I wondered .I felt a pity for these guys who stood there in a long line, only to gift the best for someone they love. "Love –What A foolish Emotion!" I thought .I laughed at the poor fellows who waited in a long queue as I took a walk to my office.Life was going on as usual .I was doing well at my job and was living a decent life. Sometimes though I felt quiet lonely. As if I was in need of a companion, someone more than a friend. And then it happened. One day she walked into my life and took me by surprise.I couldn't get my eyes off her. When I began talking to her, I talked for hours. Yes this was the companion I was searching for .

She had large, beautiful eyes, a charming personality and above all ,she got along very well with me. Life was never more colorful. We had a great time when we were together. Friendship led to love gradually. I realized that the companion more than a friend is a soul mate. The cupid had struck. And then one morning, while taking a walk to my office, I found myself standing in the long queue ,which I once mocked at.I could feel the anxiety as my turn came .I selected the best rose .It was scarlet and very fresh. It had an amazing aroma. I still remember that morning .She was wearing a pink dress. I walked to her with my heart pounding and the heartbeat increasing with each step, I took towards her.

I hesitated and perspired as I walked towards her.I gathered all the courage in the world as I held her hand and uttered the three magical words and she was all smiles. She was anticipating this for a long time, she told me afterwards. I could not believe my luck. The rose worked for me! Yes there had to be something supernatural about these roses. I was on cloud nine. Some of the best days of my life begun. We were so happy together. A year passed without notice. It was too early for both of us to get married; we decided. She wanted to spend more time building a good career. I agreed. Things were going on pretty well between the two of us and we were the perfect couple.

She was an ambitious girl, something which I actually really liked about her. I never liked the company of people who seldom talked sense. She always discussed about her plans to take the next leap in her career whenever we were together. And then it happened. One Saturday morning her call woke me up. She was very excited .I. She told me that she had got her dream job and would be relocating to a place, which was a day's journey from here. It took some time for me to digest this piece of information. I was happy for her for sure. But then, the pain of parting was too much for me to take. The week before she moved out was very painful.I remember being in tears .

She was the one consoling me all the time, telling me to be brave and assuring me that it is just a matter of time, when we will be together again." How can I be so emotional? ", I thought. I owed it all to the extent I loved her. She always seemed to put up a brave face, but I knew that she would also be going through the same emotions as I am. I was happy to have a partner, who can take the tough situations in life in her own stride.She departed after a week .I called her up everyday henceforth. Sometimes I think I overdid it .She also gave me frequent calls. I prayed for her happiness. The work never allowed me to leave the city and visit her. The same was the case with her. But never did it appear to me that we were far from each other.It went on very well for four months.

Slowly the calls started drying up from her end. Whenever I inquired, why was it so, she said that she was deeply buried in her work, and also insisted me to call less. The warmth and cheer in her voice was diminishing and the "chemistry " seemed to be not working all right. I just wished that this phase would get over soon. I had full faith that together we will be able to successfully come out of this.I still remember that Sunday morning .I had just woken up, after a long night at the office. She called me up and her voice sounded grave. I can still remember the words that tore me apart. "Honey! You have been a great companion to me, but then its time to be practical .I do not think that we will be able to pull on the relationship any further."I do not remember exactly when I came out from the shock. It was like someone whispering in my ears that today was the last day of my life.

There was emptiness .I do not know how many times I was dropped home from the bar totally drunk. It took some time for me to accept that she was no longer mine. Later I came to know that she had started dating a colleague of hers, which did not help my cause any further. The aroma of the rose had given way to suffocation. Then somehow I stabilized .All credit goes to my best friend who took me out of the situation I was in .I decided to resume the normal life and go to office again. As I was taking the mundane walk to the office the "Rose Shop "came. It filled me with anger and I had to vent it out. I found myself standing in the queue again. This time it was anger rather than anxiety.

I bought the rose. I came out of the shop and crushed the rose under my feet. I thought this would relieve me of pain. But as I watched the rose, which lay on the road badly crushed, I found myself losing control. Tears rushed from my eyes .I remembered all the sweet times that I had spent with her. Her smile on receiving the rose from me on the day when I proposed her flashbacked in front of my eyes. I picked up the rose, I crushed and kissed it and kept it in my pocket and stood there thinking that why she still mattered a lot to me, when for her I meant nothing..