Sunday, June 18, 2006
The issues we should be worried about
The issue of reservation in higher education is the topic of all the discussions, maybe except world cup football (Unfortunately for the agitators, the Supreme Court and the Rahul Mahajan case has played spoilsport. They are deprived of their daily dose of news coverage). We have seen the agitation by the Medical students, we have seen the IITians, IIMians voicing their concern. Whatever may the points and counterpoints raised, everyone agrees that they are concerned about the education of the under privileged, the lower castes and economically weaker section of the society. I personally feel that the issue of reservation (pro or anti) is a complicated one. Especially in the present politically surcharged atmosphere it will need real great effort to get through any sane rational process of thinking. I don’t know what this agitation achieved or going to achieve, but one thing is sure that it has succeeded in dividing the society vertically once again. One point to be noted; in this particular case it is seen that whole spectrum of political class is isolated from the educated middle class population. (It is another matter that the political class is least bothered about the feeling of the middle class, as this not a solid vote bank for them)
But here I would like to raise an issue which may not be related to reservation, but which will definitely make big hole to the crocodile tears shed by the politicians, agitators.
Let me give some facts first. I don’t know whether any of you will believe or not but believe me, these are not story of some nightmare but hard facts.
In the city of Hyderabad ruled by the present Chief Minister and his predecessor (the most progressive chief ministers of India) all the govt. educational institutions are in most horrible conditions. Take for example:
Govt. Girls High School at Marredpally: there are no furniture for most of the classes. Students have to sit on the floor. Forget about any other educational aids. Part of the wall painted black is used as black board. There is no electricity, so forget about fans on scorching summer days. – Wandering where is it situated? Just back side of the Secunderabad cantonment board office and Secunderabad Court, in the heart of the city.
Govt. Girls High School at Lalbazar: have only 3 rooms for students from class VI to class X. Classes are held under trees. There were no toilets for the students or teachers. – Please note this is a high school where girls aged between 11 to 17 studies.
Govt. Girls High Schools at Bolarum, the school is housed in more than 100 years old buildings waiting to fall down any moment. During rainy season all the classes are flooded.
Please remember, I am talking about schools situated at heart of the new city of Secunderabad not in some remote areas of old city of Hyderabad or outskirt. I can assure you that these are not the worst ones I am talking about, conditions of rest of the govt. schools are not any better. In recent class X board examination there were 100% failure in some of the govt. schools, not surprising.
Now let’s analyze the kind of students study in these schools; obviously the children of the lowest income group of the society, the children of maidservants, rickshaw pullers or vegetable vendors. Quite naturally most of them are from SC/ST/OBC category. You can imagine the kind of future citizen of India we are expecting out of these schools Please do remember, the children of age group of 9 to 15 years are most vulnerable. The adolescent age is where the character of a person is formed. Try to imagine the mental conditions of the students studying in these institutions. Actually it should not surprise anyone when we find that these are the breeding grounds for future antisocial elements of the society. This is where the hatred and distrust for the society in general is spawned in their minds.
I have given specific examples of these particular schools as I was involved in some efforts for betterment of the facilities there. But I am sure that there are thousands of similar schools all over the country crying for immediate action. I am also sure that most of you are aware that the conditions of the govt. schools are bad. But we normally take these kinds of things in life as natural and never give a moment’s thought on the big picture of the whole mess. This is my humble effort to force you think on the subject.
Is this an issue to be worried about? When we talk about higher education, should not we think about basic education? I ask the politicians, what are they doing about the thousands of children literally wasting their lives. Sorry, here I am wasting my time if I expect them to do anything sensible. Let me make it clear; I don’t blame the politicians for whatever they are. I blame ourselves, who tolerate these politicians, who allow them to get away with all their misdeeds by our apathy, who blame these politicians for every malice of the society but never do anything about it. How many of us even showed our concern for the alleged Rs.1500 crores of property unearthed from ex-chief minister of Haryana, Mr. Chautala and his family. We were more concerned about Rahul Mahajan’s drug (ab)use case.
I ask my friends, the agitators, the intelligentsia, the Pan IITians, IIMians, what do you think about this issue? Don’t you think these children need more of your attention? Immediate attention?
Don’t shed crocodile tears on pro or anti reservation, for the cause of merit in the process dividing the society vertically. Come down to the ground reality. If you are really concerned about the future of this country act today where it matters most.
But here I would like to raise an issue which may not be related to reservation, but which will definitely make big hole to the crocodile tears shed by the politicians, agitators.
Let me give some facts first. I don’t know whether any of you will believe or not but believe me, these are not story of some nightmare but hard facts.
In the city of Hyderabad ruled by the present Chief Minister and his predecessor (the most progressive chief ministers of India) all the govt. educational institutions are in most horrible conditions. Take for example:
Govt. Girls High School at Marredpally: there are no furniture for most of the classes. Students have to sit on the floor. Forget about any other educational aids. Part of the wall painted black is used as black board. There is no electricity, so forget about fans on scorching summer days. – Wandering where is it situated? Just back side of the Secunderabad cantonment board office and Secunderabad Court, in the heart of the city.
Govt. Girls High School at Lalbazar: have only 3 rooms for students from class VI to class X. Classes are held under trees. There were no toilets for the students or teachers. – Please note this is a high school where girls aged between 11 to 17 studies.
Govt. Girls High Schools at Bolarum, the school is housed in more than 100 years old buildings waiting to fall down any moment. During rainy season all the classes are flooded.
Please remember, I am talking about schools situated at heart of the new city of Secunderabad not in some remote areas of old city of Hyderabad or outskirt. I can assure you that these are not the worst ones I am talking about, conditions of rest of the govt. schools are not any better. In recent class X board examination there were 100% failure in some of the govt. schools, not surprising.
Now let’s analyze the kind of students study in these schools; obviously the children of the lowest income group of the society, the children of maidservants, rickshaw pullers or vegetable vendors. Quite naturally most of them are from SC/ST/OBC category. You can imagine the kind of future citizen of India we are expecting out of these schools Please do remember, the children of age group of 9 to 15 years are most vulnerable. The adolescent age is where the character of a person is formed. Try to imagine the mental conditions of the students studying in these institutions. Actually it should not surprise anyone when we find that these are the breeding grounds for future antisocial elements of the society. This is where the hatred and distrust for the society in general is spawned in their minds.
I have given specific examples of these particular schools as I was involved in some efforts for betterment of the facilities there. But I am sure that there are thousands of similar schools all over the country crying for immediate action. I am also sure that most of you are aware that the conditions of the govt. schools are bad. But we normally take these kinds of things in life as natural and never give a moment’s thought on the big picture of the whole mess. This is my humble effort to force you think on the subject.
Is this an issue to be worried about? When we talk about higher education, should not we think about basic education? I ask the politicians, what are they doing about the thousands of children literally wasting their lives. Sorry, here I am wasting my time if I expect them to do anything sensible. Let me make it clear; I don’t blame the politicians for whatever they are. I blame ourselves, who tolerate these politicians, who allow them to get away with all their misdeeds by our apathy, who blame these politicians for every malice of the society but never do anything about it. How many of us even showed our concern for the alleged Rs.1500 crores of property unearthed from ex-chief minister of Haryana, Mr. Chautala and his family. We were more concerned about Rahul Mahajan’s drug (ab)use case.
I ask my friends, the agitators, the intelligentsia, the Pan IITians, IIMians, what do you think about this issue? Don’t you think these children need more of your attention? Immediate attention?
Don’t shed crocodile tears on pro or anti reservation, for the cause of merit in the process dividing the society vertically. Come down to the ground reality. If you are really concerned about the future of this country act today where it matters most.
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