Quota crutches

The Tribune, New Delhi , March 27, 2012

Quota crutches

I endorse DR Chaudhry’s views in the article, “Reservation stir in Haryana” (March 23) that reservation was meant for a period of 10 years, hoping that deprived sections would climb up the social ladder and would no longer be in need of a quota crutch”.

The founding fathers’ vision of reservation policy was like that of the crutches lent to a limbless person until his limbs grow up and he stands on his own legs The time has come at such a pass, paradoxically, where we see that the erstwhile limbless person, now having fully-grown limbs, does not want to let go off the borrowed crutches, and the inherently able-bodied person has also started clamouring for the crutches.

It is time now to gradually phase out reservations. The concept of creamy layer in the SC/ST should be introduced. The income from any other source including salaries should be included while computing annual income.

Other modalities of affirmative action like financial help in the form of various scholarships, fee reimbursements, dedicated training programmes etc should be stressed on.

Some other criteria in addition to caste factor for entitlement to reservation should be put in place.

Dr RAJENDER GOYAL, Delhi