Suggesting that a diversity index-based incentive and disincentive system is “more flexible” than the reservation system, an expert committee appointed by the Government to develop a Diversity Index (DI) and work out its modalities for its implementation has submitted its report.

The Government had set up the committee as a follow up to the Sachar Commission report, which had exposed definite evidence of community-based discrimination and deprivation in all social spheres. The new DI proposed by the expert committee would now form the basis for providing incentives for better representation in educational institutions, work places and living spaces.

“An incentive structure can, and should be, built into the system so that those making efforts to meet the goal of increasing diversity are rewarded. Similarly, a system of disincentives should be devised so that institutions that do not make adequate effort to increase diversity are penalised. We believe that this approach has greater flexibility than the system of reservations,” the committee said in its report.

Mooting the concept of “a transparent and acceptable method to measure diversity”, the EC, headed by Professor Amitabh Kundu, member, National Statistical Mission, has listed out various incentive proposals to ensure equal opportunity to all social groups in social spheres.

Giving prime focus to education, the expert committee has suggested giving incentives in the form of larger grants to those educational institutions that have higher diversity and are able to sustain it over time. These incentives can apply to both colleges and universities, both in public and private sector.

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