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We are no longer Indians, but proud Global Indians

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CIOL Bureau
New Update

When the IIMs wanted to increase the fees for its courses two years ago, the

Human Resource Development (HRD) minister of the then NDA government, Dr Murli

Manohar Joshi refused. After the UPA government came into power, IIMs found a

knight in shining armor in Arjun Singh, the new HRD minister. Singh allowed the

fee hike.

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Two years later, the same Singh has suggested reservation and quotas for

backward classes in premier institutions such as IITs, IIMs and Central

Universities, and even in the private sector employment.

What has changed in the two years for Singh to sing a different tune?

While this is not a space for statistics, most people would agree that Team

India is on forward march, if not on a roll. Nothing to do with UPA, NDA, UDF,

LDF, Singh, Joshi, et al. It is just that India is a force and going forward,

will strengthen its position. It is clear that Singh's change of mind has little

to do with progress or lack of progress. It is more like a political maneuver

that serves the purpose of a few.

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Many prominent people in society have already spoken their minds about

Singh's move. The tone in most cases is that reservation in the private sector

is an ill-advised one. And while our industry leaders do not appreciate the

reservation, they are equally quick to point out that the condition of the

disadvantaged needs to be improved. The need to be politically correct does not

stop with the politicians after all.

It is clear that the economic condition of certain sections of the population

needs to improve. That is a no-brainer. It is also clear that the growth of the

Indian economy has to be driven by the private sector. Both these are macro

issues and not in conflict with each other. If the private sector has to grow,

it will have to involve most sections of the work force either directly or

indirectly. In other words, if the private sector contributes significantly to

the growth of the economy, it will invariably contribute to the improved welfare

of the less privileged.

That begs the question, why force a move when it is not needed? Allow the

private sector to grow unfettered and they will have to involve all the classes

whether they like it or not. That is market dynamics. The government should

concentrate on education and infrastructure. We have had more than fifty years

of reservation and we can debate endlessly what it has achieved or not achieved.

Let's not look behind and worse still, not walk backwards. Instead, all of us

need to think global. We need to concentrate on issues that will help us become

a global power. We are no longer Indians, but proud Global Indians. Even if all

of us cannot think globally, let us allow the private sector to do that. Give

them accelerators and not inhibitors.

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Singh blames the media for blowing this issue out of proportion. Maybe so,

but it is clear that Singh has caught the attention. Who knows, may be it is a

well-orchestrated move of the UPA while the state elections are on. Let's not

forget it is not the global Indian or India shining that bought UPA to power.

Time will tell whether Singh will backtrack in a while, or whether we will need

a Joshi to undo a Singh. In the meanwhile let's do what we have to do.

(The author is president, CIOL)

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