Youth for Equality

Youth for Equality (YFE) is an Indian organization involved with the 2006 anti-reservation protests, which started to counter the Government of India's move to implement 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in institutes of higher education (twenty central universities, the IITs, IIMs and 9 premier medical colleges like AIIMS and JIPMER). ultimately, the organisation opposes all reservation based on castes in India (ref : http://www.youthforequality.com/our-agenda/default.aspx).

Organization

On April 5, 2006, Human Resources Development minister of India, Arjun Singh, announced to the media that the government intended to introduce reservations for OBCs by 27% in central colleges, including IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, MAMC, JIPMER, JNU, Indraprastha University, Delhi University, and many others. Youth for Equality was conceived by students at University College of Medical Sciences expressing discontent over the proposal; other founding members include students from AIIMS, LHMC (Lady Hardinge Medical College), VMMC (Vardhman Mahavir Medical College), MAMC (Maulana Azad Medical College), Delhi University, Indraprastha University and JNU in Delhi and later spread all across INDIA.

As of June 2006, YFE's website states that it has over 16,000,00 members, and links to 12 regional chapter weblogs. The group's membership includes medical students and professionals, students at public and private colleges (including IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, MAMC, LHMC, UCMS, DU, IP university and JNU] ), parents of students, Residents' Welfare Associations (RWAs) (under the banner of United Residents Joint Action), and corporate bodies and now thousands of students across entire India.

Activities

Youth for Equality was a banner under which the students were protesting against caste based reservations. Though YFE consists of mainly Professional ( a reference to some technical courses in India) students and professionals, a significant part is also played by non professional students and workers. Its activities were very successful and its call for strike got nation-wide support crippling the medical infrastructure of India. In addition to complete roll-back of the proposed reservation, the striking protesters had demanded that an expert committee comprising members from non-political organizations to review the existing reservation policy and find out whether reservation for OBCs is required at all. Also, they demand that no penal action be taken against the protesters and publication of a white paper by the government, making its stand clear on reservation. [http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/may/20quota4.htm GoM submits report, docs soften stand] ] The indefinite hunger strike organized by YFE had nearly 150 students joining the hunger strike that entered its ninth day as on 23 May 2006. [http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/may/17quota.htm Quota: Striking doctors continued to go hungry] ] Resident doctors from all over India joined the protests crippling the health infrastructure of a number of cities. [http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/may/14quota.htm Anti-quota protests spread] ] [http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=297169&sid=NAT Nationwide anti-quota stir continues] ] . This caused great human suffering, and lead the Supreme Court to criticize the doctors. The movement was handled with a heavy hand by police.

The latest protest under the YFE banner was held on 25 th Apr 2008 in the Supreme court of India lawns , specifically protesting against reservation in post graduate courses by the Govt of India.

YFE is amongst the most recent students organisations in India. Generally the students movements are used by political parties, this is a unique non political students organisation in that no political party has yet been associated with the movement.YFE has challenged the Decision of Parliament in Apex Court and obtained stay on reservations. It may be noted that some states in India (eg: Tamil Nadu) can have up to 70% seats reserved for different classes.

References

External links

* [http://www.youthforequality.com: Youth For Equality official website]

* [http://www.desipundit.com/2006/05/22/youth-for-equality-protest-pictures/ Indian Blogosphere Mentions]
* [http://www.nerve.in/timeline:youth+for+equality News Timeline - Youth For Equality]