Reserve seats for SC/STs, Ramesh tells IRMA

At its 32nd annual convocation on Saturday, the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA) has been asked to introduce reservation for scheduled casts (SC) and scheduled tribes (ST) for admissions.

During his convocation address at the institute, founded by Verghese Kurien, the father of white revolution in India, Union minister for rural development Jairam Ramesh said since the institute has taken a central grant of Rs 25 crore in 2012-13, it has to introduce reservation for admissions.

"I don't think that you can run Irma with Rs 25-crore grant from the ministry of rural development without introducing reservation for scheduled casts and scheduled tribes," he said.

IRMA had earlier sought grant from the central government for its expansion process at the Anand campus. Last year, the government announced a Rs 25 crore grant in the Union Budget. Irma had looked to utilise the grant for local governance, decentralised planning, natural resource management, and non-profit organisations and their marketing strategies, apart from setting up centres of excellence in research.

"You must have affirmative action. You cannot claim to be a national institute of rural management where the challenges of dalits and adivasis are the central issue and not have affirmative action in your admission. There is disconnection," added Ramesh.

He noted this move will help IRMA generate a cadre of professionals belonging to disadvantaged groups, which it claims to be serving as part of its work.

"So far, you have remained protected because you did not take money from government. But now you have taken money from the government and you have to pay for your 'mistake'," he said it a lighter vein.

"I request the chairman to take a personal leadership in this regard to make a conscious effort that at least by 2014-15 efforts is made to introduce reservation for SC/ST," he added.

Speaking to the reporters after the convocation, Ramesh maintained that all those institutes which take grants from the government, have reservation. "Recently, the Centre had given Rs 25-crore grant to IRMA. So, I have put a suggestion (on reservation) and I hope that required steps will be taken in this direction at the earliest."

Pointing out at the less number of female students at IRMA Ramesh said, "In most of the institutes, around 45-50 per cent of the graduating class is girls. I am sorry to note that IRMA falls short on this. I am told that today only 30 per cent of the graduating class is girls."

He also pointed out the institute lacked in geographical diversity in student enrolment. "I didn't find regional diversity that I expected. You are a national institute for rural management, which draws students from national catchment area. But I didn't see many students from north-east or Jammu & Kashmir or other similar parts."

Notably, the minister's remarks on reservation come at a time when the country is approaching towards general elections next year.

At present, IRMA doesn't have reservation in admissions. The institute recently received approval from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to increase the batch size to 180 from the present 120.

The convocation saw a total of 105 students graduating from IRMA with post graduate diploma in rural management (PGDRM) and fellow programme in rural management (FPRM).