Creamy layer concept recognises weaker sections among forward castes and affluent ones among the backward.
Creamy layer concept recognises weaker sections among forward castes and affluent ones among the backward.
NEW DELHI: The CPM, key UPA ally and a firm supporter of reservation for Other Backward Castes (OBCs), on Wednesday added a new dimension to the quota controversy when they demanded introduction of the 'creamy layer' concept in the OBC reservation in higher education to ensure that benefits reach the needy.
The party argued for reservation for economically weaker sections among the forward castes.
Expressing concern over "crass commercialisation of education", the party demanded an immediate legislation for regulating all private higher educational institutions saying "the social control of the burgeoning educational industry is an urgent necessity."
"While the CPM is for reservation, it has maintained that unlike the schedule castes and schedule tribes, there was differentiation among the OBCs," said party politburo in a statement here on Wednesday.
"Reservation should benefit the poorer and needy section among these communities. For this, there has to be a socio-economic criterion which excludes the affluent and those already having access to jobs and higher education.
The party said, in view of the scarcity of seats in higher education, reservation should be accompanied by a commensurate increase in the number of seats in the institutions run or aided by the Central government.
The CPM said that the legislation should enable state governments to regulate admissions and fees in all private higher educational institutions which are aided or unaided.
It said while expanding the seats in educational institutions, students coming from weak and poorer background and who did not make it in the reservation categories should also be provided for through a separate allocation of seats.
"The crass commercialisation of higher education has closed the doors for a large number of deserving students irrespective of their background and even when they have the necessary qualifications and merit," the statement said.
The provision for reservation was a partial acknowledgement of the inequalities of the caste system. "The CPM has viewed such reservation as a limited step to provide opportunities for the dalits, adivasis and other backward classes to acquire education and jobs, the CPM said.
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