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RESERVATION MAGIC THE UPSIDE OF QUOTA The country's controversial quota system if viewed through the eyes of first generation learners, does not appear ridden with flipsides. It has catalysed lives, enabling many to move on from their family's drainage cleaning occupation or that of bonded labour to become doctors and senior officials in government organisations. And in a heartening move, some are going back to their villages to teach, leaving plum jobs behind, while many others now refuse to take the reservation benefit for their children, now that they are on equal footing. Swaha Sircar & Ruchika Jain | TNN Toiling on paddy fields, grazing cattle or smuggling illicit liquor would have been their fate had it not been for a controversial government policy, reservation. For all the debate surrounding the policy, quota for Scheduled Caste, Tribes and backward classes has helped many climb the social ladder. Dhenuka Nayak is one of them who worked as bonded labour till the age of nine. Now as project officer with Hindustan Latex Ltd, this Banjara Lambada tribal who is a first generation learner is spreading awareness on HIV/AIDS. "I wouldn't have reached where I am today if it wasn't for the quota system," he admits. After all, for many like Nayak who was born to illiterate agricultural workers, reservation meant a seat in a college which he could have only dreamt of. While he could get a seat in the reputed Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Tiss) others like Dr Satyanarayana Dora could live the childhood 'I will become a doctor' dream and he credits reservation for his journey from paddy fields to his privately owned clinic. "Be it securing admission in a government junior college at Rampachodavaram or gaining entry into Ranagraya Medical College, reservation has helped me at various levels," says Dr Dora who has managed to climb the social ladder financially and socially. Life has clearly changed in more than one way for these beneficiaries of the quota system. Today Dora not only owns a house and two cars but is even comfortable funding the education of his younger brother preparing for civil services. However these beneficiaries of the policy say it should be directed towards those who require it the most and not the 'creamylayer' who have already benefited from it. "My whole family has received education because of reservation but my daughters have got admission into both school and college on their merit," says DV Sarojini Devi, master technician at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). "Even though I have used reservation to reach where I am today my daughter will progress on her own merit without the aid of reservation," says Nayak. "There are a number of people who are not from a backward class but are still extremely poor. Those who have already utilised the reservation should voluntarily compete in the open category and give up their seats to those who actually require it," he adds. "Earlier reservation pushed the economically backward and underprivileged section. But now even those with good financial background are availing its benefit which is unreasonable. Rather than caste, income should be the criteria for getting seats through quotas to ensure that those who are actually in need are not left out," points out Dora. Despite their success and their hectic schedules they believe in taking a u-turn to their humble beginnings and pull others to the same platform. "The SC label also helped me get a post with a prestigious institute like HAL now even I want to do my bit for the deprived," says Devi. "I try my best to assist those from scheduled castes and other backward classes and have managed to help quite a few people in acquiring apprenticeship at HAL," she says. Dora also remains rooted to serve the other less privileged in his rural hometown in East Godavari District. "The only nursing home is in Kakinada which is around 100 kms from here. So, I thought instead of making huge bucks in cities I should serve the needy."
