There is a need to extend and enhance our support system, so that we do not end up having (even if unintentionally) an exclusionist society. But does that mean we have to necessarily compromise on merit? I don’t think we have to, because I do not agree with those who say that the entire population of the so-called ‘reserved category’ lacks competence.

In fact I would argue that not all those who are able to dish out the huge sums needed to get admitted are all competent and deserving students. Also, once a student secures admission into an institution, he or she has to sit for the same examinations and pass them, irrespective of the category under which they got admitted. But I also believe that we have to have an upper limit on how many times one can sit for the examinations and that limit should apply to all students.

The solution lies in expanding our educational infrastructure starting right from primary school upwards and we ought to do this on a war footing. Why can’t we create more Manipals and Punes? Why can’t each state in India have two IITs and three IIMs? Recently I noticed on one of the many English news channels an SMS poll of the audience on whether we should have reservations. The results showed that close to 80 per cent said ‘no’. Hardly unpredictable, because I don’t imagine most of our SC, ST, or OBC population watching the news and using their mobiles to get their perspective registered.

... contd.