Yes to affirmative action, no to mindless quotas

The 1931 census or even the 1978 situation used by the Mandal commission cannot be applicable in present context.

The student community, especially the ones who had protested against the increase in caste-based quotas is very pleased with the Supreme Court8217;s decision on the reservation issue.

United Students, a first student initiative which launched anti-caste based reservation exactly two years back and which had even met with the then president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam over the issue, feel that their stand has been vindicated.

They say, 8216;we are not against quotas per se, we are all for affirmative action, but only caste based quotas doesn8217;t serve any purpose.8217;

The very first point that they had raised in their protests back in 2006 was that the 1931 census or even the 1978 situation used by the Mandal commission could in no way be applicable in present context, and this judgment validates that fact.

This is not just a group that only makes a noise, a look at their website shows a couple of studies and surveys on how to decide which groups are actually in need of empowerment through reservation-like measures.

Although this is a success, it is but a first step, as they say that it needs to be seen if the government even implements these SC directives. A close watch needs to be kept and the government constantly monitored. Presently, the government has been given a free hand as no time frame has been set.

The stress on close monitoring by non-governmental body becomes all the more important due to the fact that the creamy layer which has been excluded includes ministers, bureaucrats and people in places of power who are bound to find a loophole sometime.

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Dhruv Suri, of IP University, further adds, 8216;the ultimate aim is to ensure that all caste disparities disappear. So in that sense, it is a very welcome judgment as the Supreme Court has given its nod to a new survey, which takes into account not only the caste but also the economic indicators to decide backwardness.8217;

Now, he says, the priority remains to see the proper monitoring is done and that the vision behind this judgment is carried out. Also due to such reservations, in colleges and higher educational institutions, caste has become a sort of deciding factor, which is sometimes used to taunt. 8216;We want to move towards a situation where all caste disparity disappears because the more you focus only on caste as the factor for granting seats, you are only reinforcing the caste divide.8217;

Clearly, youngistan at work8230;