Nashik Diary

Quest For QuotaNo caste or tribe has the freedom to choose' a quota; it is determined by a statute. But at a recent meeting held to feli...

Quest For Quota

No caste or tribe has the freedom to choose8217; a quota; it is determined by a statute. But at a recent meeting held to felicitate the state Bharatiya Vidyarthi Morcha president, speech after speech dwelt on How To Select Your Reservation Category.8217; As in How To Choose The Best Overhead Tank For Your Home, or Make Your Money Work For You8217;!

The supposed beneficiary was the Vanjari community. And the absurd, almost comical debate was about whether the Vanjaris should elect8217; to remain in the list of Notified Tribes NT or join the Other Backward Tribes OBCs.Former chairman of the Niphad sugar co-operative, Prahlad Patil Karad, felt the time had come for the Vanjari community 8220;to decide whether it wanted to continue with the two per cent reservation granted for Notified Tribes or join the OBCs which are entitled to a 10 per cent quota.8221;

Nashik Deputy Mayor Balasaheb Sonap BJP urged the Vanjaris to 8220;leave the quota under the NT and join the OBCs8221; so that they would have8220;more avenues open to them.8221;

Primary Concerns

Nashik municipal commissioner Sujata Saunik as a young girl was apparently extremely good at art, participating in painting contests and even bagging prizes while she was at it.

Clearly, somewhere along the way, civics took over. And probably made her what she is today.

How do we know? Here8217;s how. Saunik was recently invited to preside at a school prize distribution function where she gave away the awards in a painting competition organised by a Marathi daily.

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She used the opportunity to go down memory lane, recalling her triumphs in school. She also remembered, of course, that there were 8220;three primary colours 8212; Blue, Green and Yellow.8221;

Fortunately for Madam Municipal Commissioner, no sniggers arose from the assembly of young scholars. For any of them could have informed her that the primary colours are Red, Blue and Yellow. That Green is obtained by mixing Blue and Yellow, Orange from Red and Yellow, Purple from Red and Blue, and soon.

Can8217;t blame Saunik though. The art of civic administration is probably more enticing. Enough to take one8217;s mind off elementary lessons learnt in school.

Ungratefully Yours

No gratitude, no gain, or rather no district, was Bal Thackeray8217;s response to shrill demands for a separate Malegaon district at a public meeting organised by the Shiv Sena last weekend.

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The Sena chief recalled that a similar demand had led to the bifurcation of Akola to form a new Washim district. And yet, he complained, the Shiv Sena did not get enough votes to win the local Zilla Parishad poll.A separate Malegaon district would be created on May 1 this year and the beneficiaries would do well to celebrate the day as Malegaon Day, he added. They must not, he stressed, let him down like the people of Washim did. RAKSHIT SONAWANE