India casts aside caste concerns

NEW DELHI – The Indian government introduced a controversial bill in parliament on Friday that aims to reserve more college places for lower castes amid protests by upper caste students opposed to the move.

The bill, which is expected to be scrutinised by a parliamentary panel before being put to vote, will boost the number of college places reserved for lower caste students to 49,5 per cent from 22,5 per cent. The draft legislation has sharpened India’s caste divide.The government said the move was to help underprivileged caste groups, which constitute the majority of India’s 1,1 billion population.But on the streets of New Delhi and India’s financial hub of Mumbai, upper caste students staged noisy protests on Friday.”We will build public awareness against this quota policy which is against the nation,” said Lokesh Paliwal, a junior doctor.Supporters of the quota bill say the move is necessary because India’s lower castes have been traditionally disadvantaged with fewer opportunities for quality education.Nampa-ReutersThe draft legislation has sharpened India’s caste divide.The government said the move was to help underprivileged caste groups, which constitute the majority of India’s 1,1 billion population.But on the streets of New Delhi and India’s financial hub of Mumbai, upper caste students staged noisy protests on Friday.”We will build public awareness against this quota policy which is against the nation,” said Lokesh Paliwal, a junior doctor.Supporters of the quota bill say the move is necessary because India’s lower castes have been traditionally disadvantaged with fewer opportunities for quality education.Nampa-Reuters