Issue revolving the reservation system in India's premier institutes has once again manage to find its spot in the national headlines when the incumbent union social justice minister Thawarchand Gehlot announced 60 per cent of reservation for the other backward class (OBC) category at the IIT-Indore hostels on his Facebook timeline .

Gehlot's Facebook post was received with severe criticism from students and many more individuals citing it discriminatory.

The minister announced release of funds for construction of hostels for the OBC in the IIT-Indore on September 22 this year on his Facebook page.

Student's vs Gehlot:



While several students decry reservation system, terming it discriminatory, Gehlot told HT that the remaining 40 per cent will be allotted to other social category

Students express dissatisfaction over Gehlot's decision saying such system of reservation in hostel is the first-of-its-kind and further cites that no institutes such as IITs, IIMs, and NITs has such reservation

"Isn't (this) a discrimination between general, SC/ST and OBC? They (OBC students) have every right to live with general or other higher economically forward castes," asked Awadhesh Kumar Sharma, president of Gymkhana, student body of IIT-Indore

"None of the IITs, IIMs or NITs has this kind of discrimination or separate accommodation at their campuses. These are institutes of excellence and such behaviour should not be tolerated. This may shift the focus on caste instead of merit and talent," said one IIT-Jodhpur alumnus, who is pursuing another course from IIT-Indore, as reported in HT

When contacted by the HT, Gehlot said that such steps were taken as per the request of IIT-Indore. "These hostels will have 40 per cent of students from other (social) categories. We are giving Rs 15 crore to ensure that IIT-Indore has infrastructure for OBC students," told Gehlot

Ravi Saxena, a congress spoke person, alleged the BJP of introducing caste system in educational institute. "This is uncalled for and unconstitutional move by the Union minister," said Ravi

While waiting for clarification from the ministry regarding the decision, IIT-Indore officials refuse to render comments on the issue.

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