Dear George, You seem to have a problem with the creation of a level playing field for all where everyone has and gets equal opportunity.
In your own words "Regarding the IIM and IITs, I think it is a point in my favor. Who benefits? Those who have a good education, middle-class and upwards can access the system. Then they get good paying jobs and are rewarded financially. They build wealth for themselves and their children and the unjust cycle continues - the haves have more and the have-nots have nothing. How and where do Dalits and other marginalized groups get in? The technology which comes out of the IITs does help, but how much? Does a computer, jet airplane, etc. help the rural farmer? Does it help the Dalit who is left to clean streets, toilets, and other low-paying work? Or is it building IPods, plasma TVs, racecars?" So you propose that we allot seats in these institutions for people based on their caste and background, and not on the basis of their qualification and ability, so that in the long run, you think that these people will come up in life. Very good. What is the best way to get the dalit out of a life of cleaning streets, toilets, and other low-paying work? You have the answer to that too, you say "allocate IIM and IIT seats NOW to marginalized groups and we will all be better off in the long run, rather than a narrow segment of society gaining the benefits of society and a large group suffering its burdens." Great indeed. An IIT and IIM is like village tennis court after all, where anyone can jump in. Fine; so be it. So let's suppose i am a member of a marginalised caste and i have low scores and yet i make it to the top institute in the country. To succeed at that level, you need some foundation. By foundation i mean knowledge of the subject at hand and basic skills that will ensure i can cope with the standard of teaching there. Do i have it? So here is your solution to the problem. Get the dalits to complete class 12 somehow. By hook or by crook. Reserve seats in IITs. Convince the private sector to give them jobs. And then begins upliftment through the wealth generated by the marginalised castes. Here is my solution. No reservations in higher education institutes. Eligibility criteria for entry is the same for all. Free, compulsory english education till graduation for all marginalised castes. Seats and jobs are allotted to the best of the lot when all have been given equal opportunity. This will take time and effort but ensure the quality of candidates passing out is not compromised. As regards your observation that the best do not get to the top, i have one thing to say. If Dhirubhai Ambani, Bill Gates, Subhash Chandra Goel, Henry Ford, Paul Allen, N R Narayana Murthy and all had to all think that wealth cannot be created unless it is created by someone else, then you can draw your own conclusions. It is not important where you stand but what is more important is in which direction you are moving. The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do. Regards, Jason. --- George Pinto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Dear Jason > > I am in agreement with you and Elisabeth regarding > the need for primary education across the board > and enforcing laws which ban discrimination against > marginalized groups and other minorities who > are intentionally left out of the system. In reality > that is not happening. Hence, the need for > 'reservations'. How else would you get Dalits equal > access and opportunity. > > Regarding the IIM and IITs, I think it is a point in > my favor. Who benefits? Those who have a good > education, middle-class and upwards can access the > system. Then they get good paying jobs and are > rewarded financially. They build wealth for > themselves and their children and the unjust cycle > continues - the haves have more and the have-nots > have nothing. How and where do Dalits and other > marginalized groups get in? The technology which > comes out of the IITs does help, but how much? > Does a computer, jet airplane, etc. help the rural > farmer? Does it help the Dalit who is left to > clean streets, toilets, and other low-paying work? > Or is it building IPods, plasma TVs, race > cars? > > Some years ago, people complained when the so-called > 'backward' classes were hired as stewardess > and stewards on Indian Airlines and Air India. Any > number of objections were raised but in time > progress has been made and some discrimination > stopped. To answer your question, yes I would > allocate IIM and IIT seats NOW to marginalized > groups and we will all be better off in the long > run, rather than a narrow segment of society gaining > the benefits of society and a large group > suffering its burdens. > > Regarding merit, I am not convinced the best get to > the top anyway. Henry Ford III (grandson of > the founder), George W. Bush, etc. got where they > were on family privilege, wealth, etc. That is > often the case than 'merit' alone. > > Regards, > George > > > --- Jason Monserrate <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > > > > Dear George, > > > > Do think the problem of reservations in > educational institutes can be equated to the case > you > > have mentioned (a single tennis court in the > village)? > > > > Let me reframe it for you with a few changes in > your own words or Prof. Wassermanâs words > > There are seven IITs and six IIMs in India. These > are very critical because the output of > > graduates from these institutions plays a pivotal > role in major organisations worldwide > > which will define what you and I will call > technological progress 10 or 20 years from > > now. > > _____________________________________________ > Do not post admin requests to the list. > Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! 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