Like parties, people too divided over 10 pc quota for EWS

Recently, the Union government announced 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker upper castes in admission for medical colleges and the announcement was widely opposed by regional parties in the state. However, the Centre proceeded with the announcement and sought consent from the state, but according to s tate government, the consent was not given. An all-party meeting on the issue was also conducted at the Secretariat and in the meeting parties stood divided on the issue. While parties like DMK, MDMK, VCK, CPI, PMK and so on opposed the policy, national parties like BJP, Congress and CPM supported the policy. Like the political parties, the public too stand divided on the issue. While educationalists and doctors oppose the proposal, women associations and traders welcome it.

Speaking to DT Next, educationalist Prince Gajendra Babu said, “In no part of the world reservation is given on the basis of economy. Alleviating poverty by giving reservation is an absurd claim and is against the Constitution.” Quoting example of USA, he said that reservation is provided to certain under represented classes, such as negros, in most universities in USA and even then reservation is not based on economy.

Dr Ravindranath, Secretary, Doctors Association for Social Equality, said, “Reservation in our country is based on social and educational backwardness but the reservation proposed by the Centre is based on economic backwardness which finds no place in Indian Constitution. The proposal by the Centre is against social justice prevailing in the state.” He also said that the state is made to believe that it will get 1,000 additional seats by implementing this proposal, but in reality only around 500 seats will be given additionally and a majority of the seats will go to upper castes.

On the other hand, Kalaichelvi, founding president, Tamil Nadu Swadeshi Women Protection Association, supported the statement. She said, “There are poor people in all castes and just for being born in an upper caste does not mean that they are not entitled to benefits enjoyed by people of backward castes and Dalits. Poor people in the upper castes too should be given equal opportunity.” However, Kalaichelvi said that the Rs 8 lakh slab is too high under the proposal and the Centre should correct it in the future.

Similarly, SA Ponnusamy, state president, Milk Traders and Agents Welfare Association, welcomed the proposal of the Centre. He said, “students in poor families in upper castes too have dreams, but due to economic backwardness they could not fulfil them. The new proposal by the Centre would give opportunity to the poor students of upper castes.” He further said that income standards of people are increasing and Rs 8 lakh for an entire family is an acceptable norm. He also blamed the parties for making politics in the issue.