Regional reservation: AIADMK blasts ruling AINRC

: The opposition AIADMK today lambasted the ruling AINRC for adopting regional reservation in admission of students to professional colleges in the Union Territory.
Participating in the debate on motion of thanks to Lt Governor's address to the House, AIADMK member A Anbalagan said Karaikal region had been earmarked 18 per cent in seats available in professional colleges, while Mahe and Yanam regions were getting four and three per cent quota.
He said availability of 18 per cent for Karaikal region has been standing in the way of students from Puducherry in getting seats. "Nowhere in the country is such a regional reservation in force and it is an unjust and unethical practice to have the system in the Union Territory," he said.

Intervening, DMK legislator from Karaikal A M H Nazeem said the AIADMK member was indulging in double speak."While in Karaikal he (Anbalagan) speaks in support of the reservation, he opposes it while speaking in Puducherry', he said
Nazeeem contended that regional reservation was of help to students of the outlying region, enabling them to go in for higher education.
On another occasion, AIADMK and DMK members protested against government's 'partial approach' to pamper Yanam region in implementing various welfare schemes, while virtually ignoring needs of other regions like Puducherry and Karaikal

Anbalagan said government was paying Rs 6000 under 'kula vilakku' scheme to an expectant mother in Yanam but under the same scheme only Rs 500 was available in Puducherry.

The government should ensure that all four regions were considered on equal footing, he said.
Nazeem also complained that Yanam was getting special treatment in almost all schemes and in funds allocation and the government was adopting a discriminatory approach in respect of the other regions. This was an "ill conceived approach and encouraged regional imbalance," he said.