THE RESERVATION DEBATE
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Majority of Indians want quota
Published on Sat, Jun 10, 2006 at 21:17, Updated on Sun, Jun 11, 2006 at 18:09 in 
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New Delhi: The anti-quota protests dominated news headlines for weeks, but were they the representative of the real mood of the nation? A CNN-IBN and The Indian Express survey conducted by A C Nielsen on the issue has come up with some startling facts. nielsen
The findings of the survey show that majority of Indians support reservations and feel that quotas in higher education will lead to equal opportunities.
According to the survey, 57 per cent Indians favour the Government's decision on 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in higher education. Only 37 per cent feel otherwise.
Majority of the respondents feel that reservations in higher education are a key to social justice. As many as 63 per cent of the respondents said that reservations in higher education will lead to equal opportunity as against 34 per cent who felt that it will lead to loss of quality.
The survey was done among 776 people in five metros in both rural and urban areas.
The sample for the survey was unique. It had 40 per cent OBCs, 25 per cent SC and ST; 10 per cent Muslims and 25 per cent from general category, a representation of the Indian population.
But there are many surprises as well. While supporting the reservations, the respondents were dismissive of the present system of quota. As many as 57 per cent of the respondents want a changed and improved reservation system for the SC/STs, while 26 per cent want no change.
But, 15 per cent of the respondents want reservations to be scrapped. But the real surprise—53 per cent OBCs want improved reservation policy while for SC/ST the number stands at 61 per cent.
Majority of the respondents want economics to be the main criterion for reservation. 67 per cent of the respondents support the view that poor of all castes should get reservation benefits, while 25 per cent supported reservations for backward castes only.
For all those politicians trying electoral politics in supporting or opposing the reservations, the survey has bad news.
The Government’s decision will not shift the voting pattern. 84 per cent respondents said no to any change in their voting, while only 12 per cent felt otherwise. But, among those who will be shifting, the UPA will be the major gainer with 52 per cent, with NDA second with 31 per cent.
With greater awareness this time, reservations have truly become a national issue with 79 per cent respondents aware of the controversy. And 61 per cent of the respondents were aware of the Government's decision in this regard.
A surprise of the survey: 52 per cent of the respondents had never heard about the Mandal Commission.
What the survey found
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URBANEYE
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