What does it mean when seats marked out for the scheduled castes (SCs), scheduled tribes (STs) and other backward classes (OBCs) in the IITs are not filled because not enough students from these socially and economically backward categories qualify for it?
The latest figures from the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) show that there is a clear shortfall.
For example, of the 721 seats reserved for STs, 212 remained vacant, and only 2,023 out of 2,492 seats for OBCs could be filled. In 2009, about 1,000 seats meant for SCs and STs remained vacant and they had to be transferred to the preparatory course — special courses meant for those admitted after a 50% relaxation in the qualifying marks.
This, however, is not something for the merit-mongers to gloat over. The facts and figures do not clinch the argument either in favour of affirmative action or following a pure meritocracy. It can be argued that the only way to implement the equal opportunity principle is to give a leg up to the socially disadvantaged groups. Whatever the deficiencies in implementation, there is a need to persist with the policy.
There are too many flaws in this view and a detailed refutation is not the answer. However, uncompromising advocates of pure merit are not convincing either. While merit should be the prime criterion for admission into any educational institution, there are good reasons for broadening the base of merit students.
Diversity is a plus in any academic institution. Perhaps the inefficient quota system is working in broadening the merit base.
Broadly speaking, there is not only a need for more IITs but also for students from all sections of society to get into these and other institutions of higher learning. This is not just a socialist goal but one that is needed to achieve faster rates of economic growth.
Perhaps the question we need to debate is not quota versus merit, but how to create a broader base of skilled and educated workers at different levels. This requires a radically different and utilitarian approach to the issue.
Expanding opportunities does not necessarily mean a dilution of standards, as some hard liners on merit tend to believe. Nor does it mean that this can be achieved only through reservations of some kind or the other.
Standards will have to be maintained and numbers will have to grow. It is not any more the question of either this or that. It is both.
