Dr Kurien against reservation for OBCs in educational institutes

Vadodara, Apr 19 (UNI) Newly appointed Chancellor of Allahabad University Dr Verghese Kurien today said he was against reservation for OBCs in higher central educational institutions and urged the government to find a better solution to tackle the issue, taking people into confidence through dialogue.

''I believe that the proposed reservation for OBCs is not the best way to help the backward classes,'' Dr Kurien, the father of White Revolution in India, told UNI here.

Interestingly, Dr Kurien fired a salvo by expressing his views against reservation two days after he was appointed first Chancellor of Allahabad University for a five-year term by the Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry, which is advocating 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in such educational institutions.

The legendary dairy cooperative leader, who recently stepped down as Chairman of the Rs 3,600 crore Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), but heads the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA), said he was personally against reservation as it was not the best way.

''The backward classes need to be helped and the government should find a better solution through dialogue,'' Dr Kurien said adding ''I doubt whether the government's move would serve the real purpose.'' The octogenarian Chancellor, who is likely to pay his maiden visit to the Allahabad University shortly, said any decision regarding 27 per cent reservation for OBCs or the SCs/STs in central universities and other higher educational institutions, had to be a collective one.

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