Date:22/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/22/stories/2008042255580803.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Creamy layer

The Supreme Court was right in excluding the creamy layer from the purview of 27 per cent reservation for the Other Backward Classes in admission to Central educational institutions. There is enough evidence to show that the benefits of reservation in education and employment have not percolated to the poorest of the poor among not only the OBCs but the SCs too. A few castes among the disadvantaged sections have monopolised all the advantages flowing from their caste status.

At the same time, there is merit in the argument that the exclusion of the creamy layer may result in vacancies not being filled up in the reserved categories. The solution lies in giving priority to the non-creamy layer and filling up the vacant seats with the creamy layer.

A. Seshan,

Mumbai

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Reservation for the OBCs in elite educational institutions is imperative. However, it is also important to have a classification based on the economic status of those who wish to enjoy the benefits of reservation. The object of reservation is to bring the backward communities on a par with the so-called forward communities.

An OBC candidate belonging to a poor family certainly needs to be differentiated from an OBC candidate who is born with a silver spoon. Maybe, the classification based on income is unsatisfactory to many of us. It is therefore the classification that needs to be re-examined, not the creamy layer concept.

J. Anandha Kharthik,

Chennai

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This refers to the demand by political parties that the creamy layer should not be excluded from the ambit of reservation for the OBCs. The idea of reservation is to help the marginalised sections of society and ultimately ensure that no one needs it.

The creamy layer comprises those who are among the more privileged, especially with their assured annual income. They are in no way deprived. To extend reservation to this lot would only add to the state’s burden and reinforce caste distinctions in the country.

Anirudh Govind Rajan,

Chennai

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The purpose of reservation is to help the downtrodden progress, get access to education and decent employment. Once they get a job, they should voluntarily go out of the ambit of reservation and make way for the more needy among them.

But what is happening today is well known. The same family or families continue to enjoy reservation for generations. Unfortunately, politicians too support them.

R. Ramakrishnan,

Secunderabad