People's Democracy

SFI Holds All India Convention On Social Justice 

THE Students’ Federation of India, SFI has organised a Convention on Social Justice in New Delhi on June 29, 2006 at JNU city centre, Mandi House. Over 300 delegates from all over the country, representing different states, attended this convention. The convention has unanimously adopted a resolution in support of social justice and demanded the government to implement 27 per cent reservation for OBC’s in all central education institutions from the coming academic year and further ensure the overall expansion of education. 

R Arun Kumar, president of SFI, welcomed the delegates from various parts of the country and gave a brief introduction on the dimensions of the issues that were to be deliberated during the convention. 

Dr P S Krishnan, chairman, Backward Classes Commission speaking next gave a detailed analysis of the policy of caste based reservation and the present condition of the backward classes. He elaborated on the class-caste dimensions in the Indian society and said that the government can uplift the backward classes through a multi-pronged effort at safeguarding their livelihood from the attack of neo-liberal policies and at the same time improve their social mobility through education and technology. He spoke on the diverse needs of various groups such as artisans, peasants, minority OBCs and stressed for the effective implementation of the 93rd Amendment in all educational institutions. In conclusion, he clarified the criticisms of the anti-reservation agitators and pointed out the need to rectify the historical injustice against the backward sections. He called on the government to conduct a full caste census to know the exact data of the population of various caste groups and urged the students to continue their agitation and mobilisation in support of this policy. 

Sitaram Yechury, Polit Bureau member of the CPI(M) addressing the delegates elaborated on the need for caste based reservations, which is one of the means of uplifting the weaker sections of the society. However, at the same time he urged upon the government to ensure the expansion of education opportunities to all keeping in mind the quality and equity objectives of the education system in the country. Criticising the government for its withdrawal in education sector and the spiralling of private institutions charging capitation fee, he exposed the myth of merit that the upper caste elites have been voicing. He explained the class-caste stratification in the Indian society and how its eradication was possible only by ensuring land reforms and redistribution of wealth, in which both Kerala and West Bengal have proven to be a huge success. At a time when vested interests and strong forces have been bitterly opposing this measure of social justice in order to maintain their preserve and control, he called on the students to continue the struggle forward and build a progressive trend of thinking. 

Ragesh, general secretary of SFI, moved a declaration stating the demands of the SFI to implement OBC reservation from the next academic year and further enact a central legislation extending it to private institutions, in the light of the 93rd Amendment. He added that the state had to spend more on education in the future. 

The declaration was unanimously adopted by the delegates present. 

The convention was followed by a rally to the office of the HRD Ministry. A delegation of the central secretariat members of the Students’ Federation of India along with Sitaram Yechury met the HRD minister, Arjun Singh and submitted a memorandum with the following demands:

1. Implement 27 per cent reservation for OBC’s in all central education institutions from the coming academic year, i.e. 2007.
2. Increase opportunities for higher education by opening new educational institutions
3. Enact legislation to implement reservation in private education institutions immediately which is the real purpose of the 93rd constitutional amendment.
4. Ensure quality in education.
5. Increase the number of fellowships and scholarships to the needy among the students.
The minister has assured to consider the demands positively.