A Quip On The Quota System

Time flies. It really does. It feels like just yesterday when I was pursuing my studies. But nope, it has been more than three years now and I am finally getting an opportunity to reflect on my experience through this blog. So here is my story about why I have not pursued my MBA. So read on! I have heard many of my associates and family members discuss the education system: it is terrible, so much anxiety, so many fees , and so much pressure to cut through competition and so on. But there was a time when I was living that life and actually experienced it firsthand. I did not get into a college of my choice at least partially because I belonged to the general category. There were only a few number of seats and many aspirants. Not getting into your dream college makes you feel miserable. Whether or not to abolish the reservation system is highly debatable.

Reservation in India is the process of setting aside a certain percentage of government jobs and vacancies in educational institutes for members of backward and underrepresented communities. There are numerous reservations like reservation for women, reservation for physically challenged, reservation for economically backward class, reservation for scheduled castes, etc., I am not totally against it and I do think that the philosophy behind it is very well meant. Marginalized students do need means to progress and help to come at par with larger society. Though, although the reservation system is an evident discrimination, it was started with the very good objective of uplifting the socially backward society and to give them equal opportunities. But with time, its significance and the way it has been used by various people have left many of us to believe that it has stopped delivering on its true intentions. People have started misusing it. There are many examples of people making false documents just to get a seat in a college or to get a job, recently in Bhopal an additional SP (Superintendent of Police) rank official was suspended for securing job on the basis of a fake caste certificate. This has resulted in more eligible candidate losing their seat to a person belonging to a reserve category.

DSC_6997

My only issue is that special preference should be based on economic condition rather than caste. Some castes are economically very well off and have access to all resources, but still benefit from the reservations. Why should the children of SC/ST/OBC (Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe/Other Backward Classes) be considered under reservation policy when their parents have government jobs, are well paid, enjoy all the facilities required for a good education? I have come across some of my colleagues who belong to SC/ST/OBC category and have opted for reservation as they got bad marks. The ones who got good marks did not opt for reserved seats as they don’t want to be recognized under reserved quota category or be recognized as SC/ST/OBC because this creates a caste distinction which de-morals them. The caste groups who are actually deprived are unable to utilize the opportunities. The policy of reservations has been a matter of heated discussion over the past few years amongst all sections of the society. But it is me, you and the students who are affected the most from it. I really think it is high time that we brought reforms in the Indian education system. The reservation policy itself needs to be altered to suit the present day circumstances. In countries like the US, in some of the places quota systems have long been abolished, but it does not mean they are not working for the underprivileged in their society.

I believe that if the government really wants to uplift the underprivileged people of the society, well-balanced policies should be formulated. Policies such as; Reservation should be done according to income, rather than on caste basis, it is true that tribal people don’t have any source of income, lacking basic amenities of life and most of them work as labors. They don’t know even about the facilities provided to them, but some groups among them get jobs and are paid high, so for that group of people reservations should not be theirs. People should think about every group of people living in society not their individual interest. Politicians should stop using reservation system as a gimmick to have a permanent vote bank. Education should not be part of politics. Instead, nurture the saplings right from childhood for their bright future and then there won’t be any need for so-called reservation system in India.

As my big brother Zahied once said, “You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot keep spring from coming.”

Understanding my pain has helped me own it. I am grateful to be working for a great firm and now I am glad that I have an opportunity to do something for the society through AIF. Yes, I want to change my country for the better. Some may say that I should do something about it and not just write. But, I feel that discussion and debate is as integral part and important for change to happen. What do you think? Is there more that can be done in value education? Or is it a redundant cause?

Truth is a gift, a burden, and a responsibility. And, I mean to share it. This is the story you don’t want to hear when you ask me “Why haven’t you done your MBA?” But this is the story you need to hear.

Stay tuned for my next blog: I have a lot to share about the Indian Education System.

Author

  • Dudhsagar Shambhuche

    I am committed to the goal of empowering the youth of our country with education and focus on narrowing the achievement gap found in economically disadvantaged communities. I was born in Belgaum, Karnataka and brought up in Bangalore and Pune. I completed my graduation from Bangalore University in management stream. After graduating from college, I joined KPMG, as Risk Consultant. During my tenure I got the opportunity to investigate fraud misconduct for many clients. I was also directly involved in understanding the systemic loopholes in existing Code of Conduct that need to be plugged to prevent such incidents in future. Apart from my busy schedule I always actively and enthusiastically contribute my time as a volunteer for numerous CSR activities like; Mobile CreíÛches, tree plantation and other social activities organized by my firm. I am glad that I was honored as "Most Volunteered Champion" by CSR team. These experiences sparked my interested towards community services in youth empowerment and development through education. It gives me immense pleasure KPMG initiated this Fellowship program and I am part of this unique venture. My key focus areas for the this program are primarily to work for education development at rural area and youth development as I strongly feel and believe that Education tells us how to think, how to work properly, how to make decision, through education only one can make separate identity. It is most important in life like our basic need foods, clothes and shelter. The prime objective in my life is to be service-focused with a strong commitment to serving the needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable sections of the society. I feel I would be able to make a strong contribution of my experiences in organizational planning. Also defeating challenges of limited resources and financial constraints to design high quality, cost-effective programmes. I value the opportunity to contribute and learn more through this fellowship program. My hobbies are reading and writing short novels, traveling and I also enjoy listening to Punjabi music, after all music gives soul to the universe. I also know 3 different Indian languages other than English. Supported by KPMG

I am committed to the goal of empowering the youth of our country with education and focus on narrowing the achievement gap found in economically disadvantaged communities. I was born in Belgaum, Karnataka and brought up in Bangalore and Pune. I completed my graduation from Bangalore University in management stream. After graduating from college, I joined KPMG, as Risk Consultant. During my tenure I got the opportunity to investigate fraud misconduct for many clients. I was also directly involved in understanding the systemic loopholes in existing Code of Conduct that need to be plugged to prevent such incidents in future. Apart from my busy schedule I always actively and enthusiastically contribute my time as a volunteer for numerous CSR activities like; Mobile CreíÛches, tree plantation and other social activities organized by my firm. I am glad that I was honored as "Most Volunteered Champion" by CSR team. These experiences sparked my interested towards community services in youth empowerment and development through education. It gives me immense pleasure KPMG initiated this Fellowship program and I am part of this unique venture. My key focus areas for the this program are primarily to work for education development at rural area and youth development as I strongly feel and believe that Education tells us how to think, how to work properly, how to make decision, through education only one can make separate identity. It is most important in life like our basic need foods, clothes and shelter. The prime objective in my life is to be service-focused with a strong commitment to serving the needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable sections of the society. I feel I would be able to make a strong contribution of my experiences in organizational planning. Also defeating challenges of limited resources and financial constraints to design high quality, cost-effective programmes. I value the opportunity to contribute and learn more through this fellowship program. My hobbies are reading and writing short novels, traveling and I also enjoy listening to Punjabi music, after all music gives soul to the universe. I also know 3 different Indian languages other than English. Supported by KPMG

You Might Also Like

6 thoughts on “A Quip On The Quota System

  1. Glad to see this up. I know a lot of people that might not agree, but you make a good argument. Way to take a clear position.

    If it wasn’t for reservations, it sounds like you might be in grad school rather than here with us. Lucky for us!

  2. Dudh
    All positive discrimination policies eventually lose their rationale . The time to change them is when they are no longer necessary to address the underlying issues. Before then there clearly will be abuses and successful attempts to game the system. But until those abuses ,some of which are just anecdotal instances, undercut the basic premise the rest of society has to live with them.

  3. Yeah, I totally agree with you dudh, but today you are going on a good path! and as everyone says, “A different voice may be particularly effective in disturbing the existing participants into re-examining matters they had come to take for granted.”

  4. Dudh very happy to see this up, your blog will be communicate to more general group and general category people will go with your flow and of late yes, you are going on a good path.

  5. Coherent, candid, well thought through. I liked particularly the general category points, they were brilliant. Good Job. Keep it up!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Join Us

Stay up to date on the latest news and help spread the word.

Get Involved

Our regional chapters let you bring the AIF community offline. Meet up and be a part of a chapter near you.

Join a Chapter

Help us help those in need.

Subscribe to newsletter

Become a Fundraiser or Donate to Light a LAMP

Skip to content