Academicians debate on India’s roster system and placement worries

[caption id="attachment_235707" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Academicians and teachers, besides Naga students at a debate that the Naga Scholars Association conducted on February 22, at the School of International Studies in New Delhi.[/caption] Dimapur, Feb. 25 (EMN): The Naga Scholars Association (NSA) organized a “national debate” about the “politics of 13 points roster system,” on February 22, at the School of International Studies in New Delhi. The NSA issued a press release on Monday detailing the interactions at the event. Dr. Zuchamo Yanthan, the president of the association, spoke of apprehension about the UGC’s 13 points roster system: If it is implemented, marginalized communities especially the Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste people will never find job positions in universities across India, “which is quite alarming.” “The proposed roster is totally going against the constitution of India which protects the marginalized communities. The alternative which is being proposed is the 200 point roster system which makes the university/college as the basic unit by giving a possibility of enhancing a sustained and affirmative action for social justice,” the association stated, quoting its president. Yanthan stated that the NSA had organized a national debate on the issue by inviting eminent educationists and national leaders of the teachers’ movement to deliberate in order to get a better perspective about the issue. The first speaker of the event was Dr. Nandita Narain, former president of the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (Duta) and Federation of Central University Teachers’ Association (Fedcuta), besides being the head of Mathematics at St. Stephen’s college. Narain said reservation was an affirmative action for the underprivileged classes in society. It was after several years of debate that the Mandal Commission was able to implement it. “Therefore, the privilege group of people had to explain the need to empowered the underprivileged groups and communities,” the press release quoted Narain. She said further that the idea/debate against reservation was “racist.” She talked about ‘the scenario in 1990s when no reservation for ST was given in Delhi University.’ It was only after post 1996 that reservation started in India through a ‘parliament order’ using 40 points roster, the updates stated. Dr. Rajiv Ray, president of the Duta & Fedcuta, was another speaker. He said that in the ‘90s the then president of the Duta resigned on ‘ethical grounds.’ “He was forced to sign going against reservation policy in university system. Hence, he resigned to show his solidarity for reservation,” Ray said. “He stated that till today, Duta is the only organized teachers’ organization which is consistently carrying out fighting for the implementation of reservation policies in universities across India. Our strength lies in the number of teachers committed for the marginalized sections.” The third speaker was Prof. DK Lobiyal, dean of School of computer & System Sciences, JNU. He said that the teachers’ movements at JNU have not been as vibrant as it used to be during the past one decade. He said that the crucial issue of the 13 points roster system was in ‘how to strategise to make the government of India come up with solution to the roster problem faced by the STs, SCs and the OBCs.’ He supported the idea of the Duta trying to put pressure on the government to come up with an ordinance under schedule 9 of the Constitution of India. The chairperson Prof. Sukumar Narayana summed up the discussion. He highlighted the mass movement on the 13 points roster point and the apprehension about whether the government will take it seriously or not. He was said to have referred to a recent agitation where reportedly more than 8000 people participated to fight against the 13 points roster system. “But this should be more than agitation and needs to take further as political context is very important,” he said. He spoke about the danger the roster system and how it would adversely impact the marginalised communities especially the ST and the SC. “Once this 13-point roster is accepted, if any person joins as a SC/ST or OBC in universities, until they retire, the position will not be filled under the reserved category. So, that means, after 30 or 35 years, in the service of that candidate who joins in that centre or department, till the person retires, no one can get in. That will wipe out representation from these communities from these posts,” Narayana said. According to the press release, he said that “there is a need for sensitizing the spineless political representatives” who are representing the people in the name of political reservations; they need to be questioned ‘for not voicing out for the interest of the marginalized communities.’ He urged the scholars to not only question the representatives in the parliament but also ‘dismiss them in the coming election.’ The government recently announced 10% reservation in jobs and higher education for ‘economically backward’ sections. Right after that came the “SC ruling about the 13 point system,” the press release stated. “But, see the irony of it. Reservation was introduced to address the denial of social justice to the communities. Now, the people who perpetuate caste violence and reservation, they are getting reservation. The 13-point roster and the EBC reservation have both been introduced within a month,” Narayana told the gathering. “We must fight for this cause but politically, as we cannot do away with our constitutions. We must continue with the campaigns, make door to door, and talk to the people until it is achieved. We need to understand that the politics of presence is very important but politics of silence is most dangerous.” He concluded by saying that ‘we must protest united till they see concrete action from the government.’ The debate was followed by discussions and a question-and-answer session, the press release stated.