Wednesday, April 26, 2006

My two cents on Reservation

Enough media coverage and even blog space has been dedicated to this topic. Here are my two cents nevertheless.

Well, what ever I say will be viewed as coming from an upper caste and obviously biased, but I continue writing here nonetheless, willing to take on that allegation.

Even the writers of our constitution envisaged reservation only for 10 years, but vote bank politics has ensured that reservation not only continued but also thrived and propogated and even became an election issue. My understanding is that government wants to provide social equitability. This means that equality of opportunity in schooling, college, jobs and so on. But somehow I dont see 'equality' here.

60's and 70's were the era of huge state funded industries and factories. Working in government jobs meant life time employment, pension and other retirement benefits taken care of. So reservation entered and stayed in these institutions. Today, private enterprises are the most lucrative jobs and IITs, IIMs, AIIMS the most prestigious institutions. So today they would come under the reservation umbrella. Tomorrow it would shift to civil services and probably even army, who knows.

When Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, proposed to the industry to come up with some kind of diversity policy for affirmative action, (wow... sounds sophisticated.. but read it as RESERVATION). It was unanimously rejected by the CII. Well, I am sure it was the politician in Dr. Singh rather than the economist in Dr. Singh talking. When one wants to compete globally with the best of the best, why would a company want to have a reservation policy. By this, they would be taking in people who are lower down the merit order. This automatically means more training, more expenses, wastage of precious time, resources and space. Today the buzz word is human capital and human equity, and no one in their right senses would want to make their human equity less competitive.

Private enterprise and especially IT was probably the best thing that could have happenned to the non-reservation candidates in late 80's and 90s. Here, merit was recognised. Today if we are known globally for anything its Indian erotica and the IT industry. Why would a nation want to destroy its own competence instead of leveraging it makes no sense economically, politically and hell, even rationally. Short term, myopic election to election view of our leaders is telling.

The problem is systemic and there seems to be no sign of an ideological shift away from the reservation mindset. So the question now in front of us is, will we sit back and see more and more opportunities being snatched away from meriotorious candidates or are we going to stand up to make our voices heard? Will we take some 'affirmative action'?

I do believe that there should be help to sections of society which do not have exposure or do not have ability to gain that exposure. Lets set up more technical schools. Let the industries adopt colleges, diploma schools, run courses in colleges and even schools. These are the common suggestions which come out and are oft repeated but is someone listening? Is someone doing something? Does anyone want to do anything?

Damn! wish I was 'oru naal mudhalvar' (CM for a day):D

I see a lot of protests by students in Delhi, Allahabad, Patna but no news at all from the south. Are all the students willing to accept whatever the diktat is,no matter what its implications are?

Affirmative action: Read here (for stannford's philosophical history) and here (wikipedia).

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Elections and Economics

I have this habit of striking up conversations with auto drivers whenever I travel in Chennai. And invariably it comes down to politics. In my recent trip to Chennai, I had a very interesting conversation with an auto driver.

The entire conversation started off with a simple question from me. 'Who will you vote for?'. I was surprised by his immediate reply. 'Jayalalitha' . I was now curious. I wanted to know the reason behind his conviction. My thoughts were jumping from whether his union was affiliated to the AIADMK or if he was a party worker or may be just an 'amma' supporter. But his answer surprised me.

"During this rule of 'amma' the city has done well. There are many new companies which have come to Chennai and many people are visiting Chennai. Hence the business is brisk and I am making good income. "

My immediate and almost instinctive question was 'What about the Rs 2 rice, free TV , removal of liquour from TASMAC and 2 acres land among others'?

'Saar, the Rs. 3.50 rice in ration shops itself is not good, how much at Rs. 2 will I buy. The DMK has been saying that the TN finances are not good and amma is ruining it and they want the centre to help. But, when they are come to power, they will spend the extra money from the state money to provide Rs 2 rice? 5 years ago when DMK was in power how come they did not give rice at Rs 2 when it costed only Rs 2.50. Its all lipservice sir nothing more and nothing new.
About colour TV, we all can buy a colour TV with one month of savings and loan. And for those who cannot do that, for them a hospital in their village or a cement house is more important than colour TV. About land, I dont know when I will be alloted my land, and in this how many acres would the rich people take off.. and more so which corner of Tamil Nadu I would be alloted. If I am given land near Tuticorin (extreme south TN) and I am in Chennai (North TN) whats the use?

I dont want the government to give me free stuff like this. I want them to provide a good system. I will work hard and earn my living. I want them to ensure jobs for people who graduate. My son who comes out of engineering college in next 2 years should get a job. I think this current government has got lot of companies and so my son can get a job. I send my daughter to tutions and she comes back late at night. There are lots of patrols at night and the crime against women has come down in last 2 years. Also amma has paid a lot of importance to girl's education.'

I was totally surprised with his line of thinking. Economic progress combined with increased awareness due to media and a basic level of education can be a deadly combination. If the entire voting population thinks in this manner......


ps: I have only reproduced what the auto driver narrated to me.

Monday, April 03, 2006

Kolkata and Sikkim

Everybody should visit Sikkim once in his/her lifetime. It is an amazingly beautiful place. I made a 7 day trip 4 days in Sikkim, 2 in Calcutta and 1 in Chennai/Mahabalipuram. I am attaching a few pictures from my trip. I would say it has been the most pleasing trip I have undertaken so far. Here are some snaps from the trip.


I visited all major places in Kolkata and made a mini pilgrimage to Eden Gardens too. Esplanade, Park Street, Millennium Park all are cool places to hang out.





The drive up the mountains to reach Gangtok is breath taking. One follows the course of theTeesta river for over 2 hours. There are picturesque bridges which cross the river below.





Gangtok is a pretty town with beautiful view points (of the majestic Kanchenjunga) and monasteries among other things. It is also closest to Nathula pass (current India China border and the famed silk route). We made a trip to Nathula and stopped enroute at Changu Lake.



It was a beautiful site. Snow covered mountains, a lake and a small village/settlement. Things cannot get more prettier. Words definitely fail me in describing the place and how I felt being there. I am sure I cannot even think of attempting to describe the beauty of something that has to be witnessed.