Read on NDTV about Yashpal Jaware’s achievement. He is from Nandurbar in Maharashtra: One of the poorest districts, which is notorious for malnutrition deaths.
What most fail to see it that at the end of it all, it is the individual’s desire, passion, and industry that count. Take a look what he lists when he talks about his obstacles:
1) Cycling 15 KM a day to the nearest science college.
2) Studying: Power cuts ensured that he couldn’t study in the night.
3) Coping with English.
He scored 85% in his CET. I am sure that Yashpal would have made it even without quota. What we need to do though is make sure that the Yashpals of this country have easier access to schools and colleges. How will that happen? Only when the government allows the private sector to set up schools, moderate and police the competition thereof. We also need to minimize power cuts. Again, we have to resort to privatization there.
I empathize with his English language problem. I couldn’t frame two sentences when I was in school. Such is the situation in small towns and villages. Also, if you talk in English you will be mocked at. That happens even in Chennai!
A feasible way out is to bring Internet to the schools in villages. Train them in computers and let them explore… I don’t know I am just thinking aloud. Or, maybe give them self-help books for free so that they can train themselves in the basics of the language.
That said, isn’t it obvious that the real benefit of quota goes to the urban, well-off ‘backward-on-paper’ students? And, that as long as the government’s involvement is minimal, we will do just fine?
Also read:
Imagine no reservations by Atanu Dey
Reservations benefit the upper castes by Anand
