M A I L B A G

Private sector reservation is a retrograde step

THIS refers to Karam Singh’s article “Reservation must in private sector” (Perspective, Jan 15).

Enough has been said in favour of and against the reservation policy. But for God’s sake support what is right and do not support what is not right. If the children of officers like Deputy Commissioners or Superintendents of Police are not underprivileged and are not leading a deplorable, social and economic life, please do not support reservation for them. Just weed them out so that the benefit can go to the really deserving people. The current reservation policy is doing no good to uplift the real underprivileged.

Let us not support reservations in promotion. If a junior with lesser qualification and experience keeps getting quick promotions and becomes the boss of a more eligible candidate, it creates frustration and perpetuates casteism.

SANDEEP GROVER, Panchkula

II

A substantial part of the “well fed” and “well fixed creamy layer” that Mr Karam Singh refers to is made up of well entrenched “privileged category” officials whose wards have no business to be using the reservation facility at every stage of their careers.

The whole policy of reservation is warped. The government needs to provide books, stationery, special tuitions, transport, board and lodging and every other means to bring upeconomically deprived children up to the mark so that they are able to compete with the rest. For, only the very best can mend and remake the nation – a responsibility the private sector has taken over wherever it can.

Dr RAKNOR SINGH, Amritsar

III

The writer has rightly written that only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches. Yes, it is only a deserving person who feels the pinch when inefficient and incapable persons supersede him due to reservation. In the private sector, the management picks efficient people irrespective of their caste or religion. A private hospital cannot play with the lives of people by recruiting incapable and inefficient doctors, but the government can. The private sector is result oriented and will kick out an inefficient person if he doesn’t give results even if he belongs to the upper class.

MUKESH BHANOT, Jalandhar City

IV

Benefits of reservations on the basis of caste have not trickled down to the most deserving section of society. No officer from SC/ST/OBCs, however well placed in life, would ever think of renouncing this god-gifted title for the sake of his less fortunate brethren.

To extend reservation to the private sector would be unjust, impracticable and would be out of step with the competitive economy. Moreover, it will be against natural justice and the letter and spirit of the Constitution.

SUKHDEV SINGH GILL, Jagraon

V

Dalits are facing humiliation in every field of life. It is true that the majority of Dalits are still doing menial jobs even after 58 years of independence. The government has failed to uplift them due to improper implementation of various reservation schemes and policies. The benefits should have gone to the needy Dalits. And many vacancies for jobs reserved for Dalits go unfilled for years.

NIRANJAN SINGH, Ropar

VI

I fully agree with the writer that due to defective reservation policies, even today a large number of SC/ST families live below the poverty line and are doing menial jobs. But how the 85th and 104th Constitutional Amendments will benefit those below poverty line is not understandable. Poor SC/STs are unable to pay fees of unaided private educational institutions even at confessional rates. To help the poor, income, not caste, should be the criterion for reservation.

BALDEV SINGH, Lehra Mohabbat

VII

With job opportunities in the public sector shrinking, the interests of SC/ST/OBC communities are required to be safeguarded by securing jobs for them in the private sector. It is necessary to make such a provision in the private sector prior to taking decisions on Privatisation.

The planning commission should recast its priorities and make a separate allocation of funds commensurate with the Dalit population. Funds should be strictly utilised for the intended purpose.

Dr RAM LAL JASSI, Jalandhar

VIII

In India, 40 per cent of the households in rural areas are landless, with low incomes. How can these people compete in education? Quotas in the private sector is therefore a must.

S.M. MASKE, Shimla

Promote serious journalism THE article “Serious journalism must remain part of democratic dharma” by B.G. Verghese in the Sunday Tribune (Jan 29) requires serious attention. If the media is to remain a public trust, as it must, the proprietors of newspapers must take the lead. A trust of The Economist, England’s most prestigious journal, was set up way back in 1929. Its purpose was to protect the newspaper’s editorial and commercial independence by exercising two rights – first, to approve or reject all proposed changes of the editor; and second to approve or reject transfers of shares. Lord Alexander, who died last November, was its most distinguished trustee; during his tenure as trustee the independence of The Economist was never questioned. But, as was recorded in an obituary of the great man, in The Economist: “As befitted one of the leading legal minds of his generation, he was forever probing into the trust’s legal basis, ensuring that the trustees were well prepared in case a challenge should occur”. Verghese’s article is a matter which must engage the consideration of the Press Council of India. FALI S. NARIMAN, New Delhi