| Quota Bill to have far-reaching consequences in Kerala | |||
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| It is pointed out that if proper legislation is not brought in to bridle the minority institutions then it would be detrimental to society and giving these institutions an opportunity for minting money.
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| At the moment, only one institution in the State (MES College, Kuttipuram) has this status and it is certain that all other minority institutions will now clamour for this status Student organisations including the SFI have already indicated that they intend to protest against this injustice.
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| Joseph Pulikkunnel, director of Pala-based Indian Institute of Christian Studies said that, "With the SC/ST students being avoided, I think the problems in the education sector might increase. I respect the generosity of Parliament towards minorities. But, the MPs do not know that the benefit of such benevolent gestures never reach the members of minority religions. In the case of Christian institutions, especially Catholics, the institutions and wealth belong only to priestly class.
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| Hence for the last 56 years, this right that has exclusively been given to the minorities is hijacked by a select few within the community. For example, no layman is represented on the governing body of Pushpagiri Medical College, only the priestly class," he remarked.
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| "According to code 191 of Eastern Canon Law of the Catholics, the Eparchial Bishop governs the eparchy with legislative, executive and judiciary powers. He is the viceroy of the Pope. The Bishop normally is interested only in the power and the paraphernalia associated with it and such rights munificently given by the fathers of our Constitution were never enjoyed by the community as such. On the other hand, in an SNDP institution, no matter who heads it, it is a fact that there is a democratically elected
administration.This is never seen in minority controlled institutions. Our law making authorities should understand such ground realities and then a take decision whether a unilateral set up should be allowed to take control in the name of community," Mr Pulikkunnel added.
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| SFI state president Sindhu Joy said that the first and foremost thing was to define minority unambiguously. "Exempting SC/ST students from a minority institution is undemocratic and in the peculiar situation prevailing in Kerala, this will only lead to further admission by auction. I hope that the recent pastoral letter by the Syro-Malabar Church regarding equanimity in education and lending a helping hand to students of backward communities may get implemented to avoid further embarrassment in the already bad state of affairs of the self financing education," Ms Sindhu said.
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| As far as Kerala is concerned, the majority communities are also directly or indirectly involved in the education sector and a defeat of the Amendment in this regard in Lok Sabha would have meant a clear demarcation between institutions controlled by majority and minority religions. Educational experts are of the view that this should not have been allowed and the argument for a uniform civil code again comes to the forefront in such a situation.
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| "Kerala is known for dealing even handedly with religions. Nobody here treats people or institutions in a purely communal way. If that is the situation, I don't understand why SC/ST children were kept at bay in minority institutions," said a journalist.
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| SUCI leader V Venugopal said that the new Bill was a larger design in the name of consensus of ruling and opposition parties to institutionalise self-financing system of education.
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"Ours is a battle not for wealth or for power.
It is a battle for freedom. It is a battle for the reclamation of human personality."
- Dr BR Ambedkar
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