I support PM on increasing seats. Only, it must be done (a) in a phased program as per viability. (b) Secondly, the creamy layer among SC/ST/OBC must be identified and excluded from eligibility for reserved quota.
Education is our strength. There is wide potential in education system due to globalization. Many jobs are coming up globally for Indian engineers, technocrats and professionals including doctors. We have to increase education institutes progressively and invite corporate style public investments in educational institutes, which will provide education on payment of prescribed fees. Such institutes must be free to determine fees, as the market conditions will automatically limit the number of students and viability.
Our students are going to UK, USA, Newzeland, Australia, Russia and so on. They can afford higher fees if good education is available in India. Not only that. We will have students from the very countries where our students are going because of paucity of domestic seats. Education, IT, medical tourism, jewelers and handicrafts are future growth areas for India.
Shortage of teachers can be overcome by increasing retirement age to 65. Air India pilots too now work up to 65 years for overcoming shortage. Students learn more in small coaching classes rather than in sprawling school and college campuses (if you call that an infra structure). I do not think that educational standards will get diluted vastly. Yes, transient set back will be there. But that will be just a breather in marathon race.
I feel that students must think clearly and try to settle for best solution rather than confrontation. Even armies do tactical withdrawals. This will not be an end of the road. Negotiation table is more important than stubborn demand - which are unlikely to be met at least till present constitution remains effective. You can fight governments but not the constitution by strikes.
Constitution will change in due course. However best course for present is talk and not confrontation. Unfortunately caste is not only a vote bank but still is a social system as can be seen in matrimonial columns in any news paper/portal or magazines. Cast will go, but not overnight. Doctors must resume duty and form a steering committee for negotiations. They should not hold innocent patients to ransom. If they behave irresponsibly to patients who may die for lack of treatment, what is wrong if some of them get lathi blows?.
Medical education is among highly subsidized by govt. One would expect doctors to behave in decent dignified manner befitting elite members of society. From what we see, they too are behaving in unruly fashion not becoming of true professionals. Merely wearing white coat does not make them honorable. While I do not justify lathi charge on medicos, but bringing city traffic to a stand still or neglecting patients is not dignified behavior. There have been clashes between pro and anti reservists in Patna and students used lathi among themselves as seen on TV. Such irresponsible behavior must stop.
Two honorable members of knowledge commission resigned. For what?. The law of the land is decided as per constitution. If 3/4 majorities of MPs decide, the constitution can be amended. Not by protests and hunger strike. Even PM and president are powerless. they can not change the constitution by themselves.
Why attack Arjun singh?. Attack MPs nationwide and let 2/3 rd of them remove reservation from constitution. That is not easy. Two NKC members should withdraw their resignations and work for betterment of India as a whole. If in doubt, get ruling from Supreme Court about legality but do not force issue on streets. Doctors should follow the Hippocratic oath of ethics and serve human kind. That is our primary sacred duty towards mankind.
There was a time when India was world-renowned learning center. We can become one soon again if we shed conservatism. let us bring back the glory of the past. Let us be soldiers of progress and not get deterred by temp set backs.
RE:india - a learning center for tomorrow
by alok on May 29, 2006 11:17 AM Permalink
Let the MPS and Ministers and PM/President have their doctors, drivers, airplane pilots, security personnel from the reservations and not based on merit.
