Youth For Equality’s Stand
May 30, 2006 – 1:38 pmIn the wake of the 93rd amendment to the constitution of India, it is now possible for the Central and State governments to enforce up to 49.5% reservation in public and private colleges across the country. On April 28th, 2006 the Congress-led Democratic Front government in Maharashtra has quietly approved a draft ordinance that will bring in a staggering 50% reservation in private professional institutions. It is only a matter of time before similar quotas are ENFORCED in colleges across the country and the corporate sector.
As members of the student community and the corporate sector a 49.5% quota has grave ramifications. Reservation undermines MERIT. In a nation where premier institutes have a 1% acceptance rate, a 49.5% quota will DENY meritorious candidates admission. Are we willing to sacrifice the aspirations of lakhs of students at the altar of what is nothing more than vote bank politics?
The Government of India is pursuing a policy of blatant appeasement that needs to be checked. It is time for PROACTIVE ACTION. We as the youth of India owe it to ourselves and more importantly this nation to make our voice heard. India is a democracy. It is only through a united front that we can bring about the change that the times demand.
Students from colleges across the country have decided to hold a nation-wide protest against the 93rd amendment. All those who oppose this move of the government are requested to show solidarity with these students. The protest will be apolitical and non-violent. Details will be forwarded to you soon.
How Can You Be a Part of This Movement?
1. Organize discussion forums effective protests against the government’s move.
2. Start a signature campaign against this move in your respective colleges/offices.
3. Voice your opinion through blogs, emails and letters to the editors of magazines and mark a copy to the mail id yfemumbai@gmail.com.
4. SPREAD THE WORD. Launch SMS and e-mail campaigns to direct people to :
http://youthforequality.blogspot.com ,or
http://yfemumbai.blogspot.com/
5. Rally your alumni associations to express support for this cause.
6. NRIs may send letters of support to Indian Embassies across the globe.
7. The private sector is encouraged to express their solidarity with this movement and voice their opinion through industry organizations.
Please feel free to express your thoughts and opinions through an e-mail to yfemumbai@gmail.com.
One Response to “ Youth For Equality's Stand”
let the force be with and God give us the power and courage to fight this battle till the end. We cannot afford to lose this battle as this is the most important battle in the life of our times and history should not accuse of being cowards. It’s time to show courage to stick to the cause. We need to motivate, encourage and persuade ourselves to the cause of equality and try to campaign actively, everyday, every night and every breath for this cause. Withdrawal of the strike by doctors does not mean anything to the campaign. The campaign will continue till equality is restored in the society. We need to keep the campaign alive and need to ensure that this fight continues for weeks and months till the government and Supreme Court make a case in our favor and abolish all forms of reservation. The fight has to be persistent and continuous and non-violent and there must be no let down and it must gather momentum every day and fall on the government like a huge juggernauting snowball. In a soceity where there is abundance creating quota does not adversely effect the legitmate receivers of benefit. In our country with its meager resources providing quota means harming the legitmate meritorious students. principles and ideals which were on the forefront during independence times have taken back seat with the current parliamentarians. The current breed of parliamentarians work for benefit of themselves and their community. They are unconcerned about their acts adversely effecting huge sections of population. They reinforce their arguments with seemingly irrational arguments. The current media quality has deteriorated to such low standards that emotional and irrational logic are made to sound seeming and reasonable. The need is to continue the agitation till the equality is resotred in democracy. Everyone must do their part in spreading the word and strenghtening the campaign.
By raj yashwant on Jun 1, 2006