In a historic decision ahead of crucial 2019 Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi led NDA government has approved 10 percent reservation for economically weaker section of general category. The Bill proposing the constitutional amendment was moved in Parliament yesterday and was passed by thumping majority. Earlier, the decision was taken on Monday during the cabinet meeting.
According to a report by ABP news, the reservation quota will now also include private-run higher educational institutions. According to the news portal, there is a provision in the bill that the benefit of the reservation will be available in the private educational institutions. Till now, the private sector institutions have been exempted from the reservation.
Not to forget the fact that, there are more than 78% of colleges being run in the Private sector; aided and unaided taken together, and it caters 67% of the total student enrolment. Private Aided Institutions are managed by an Individual, Trust, Society or Other Private Organization and receive regular maintenance grants from Government or Local Body. e.g. Hindu College, Delhi affiliated to the University of Delhi. Private Un-aided Institutions are managed by an Individual, Trust, Society or Other Private Organization, which is either not receiving any grant or in receipt of one-time ad-hoc grant for a specific purpose like building construction, strengthening of library or laboratory, one-time subsidy towards teacher salary etc., but not receiving a regular maintenance grant. e.g Chanchalben Mafatlal Patel College of Nursing, Ahemadabad.
If the scheme is implemented as mentioned in the report by ABP news, it will be a welcoming step for the economically weaker section in the general category. A report by the Ministry of Human Resources Development further shed light on the fact that the number of students getting enrolled in private institutions has grown over time. The report further stated that out of a total of 799 registered universities, 303 are privately-maintained accounting for 38% of the total. The decision of Modi government will help meritorious students who were not able to get admission in private institution due to the lack of funds.
As per the decision of the Modi government, the quota will be applicable for those belonging to the general category with income of less than Rs. 8 lakh per annum. This quota will be for those applying for public employment and in educational institutions. According to the Indian Express report, the reservation criteria in jobs include families belonging to the economically weaker section of the general category earning less than Rs 8 lakh per year across all religions, and those with farmland below 5 acres, residence less than 1,000 square feet. As for Urban areas, those having less than 100-yard plot in the notified municipal area, the plot below 200 yards in the non-notified municipal area will get the benefit of the reservation.
The demands of reservation for the economically weaker sections have been raised from time to time but were long ignored. Finally, the Modi government has given heed to the longstanding demand.