Hyderabad, Apr 8 (TNT): Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU) Vice Chancellor Ghanta Chakrapani, on Wednesday said reservation is not merely a provision but a fundamental right that strengthens inclusiveness in democracy.
Addressing a symposium on “Reservations – Democracy – Challenges” organised as part of Social Empowerment Week celebrations at the university campus here, he said reservations play a crucial role in establishing equity in society and ensuring fair distribution of opportunities across all sections.
He stated that reservation is rooted in democratic values and should be aligned with population proportions to ensure social justice and fairness.
The Vice Chancellor said true democracy must guarantee dignity, equal opportunity and respect for every individual irrespective of social background.
Tracing the historical roots of the concept of equity, Chakrapani said the idea was strongly advocated by Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, and stressed that social justice extends beyond economic upliftment to include dignity and equal respect for all communities.
He also cautioned that educational institutions should not remain silent on issues of social justice, warning that political forces may mislead society for electoral gains if academia fails to engage.
Participating in the panel discussion, S. Mallesh, former Vice Chancellor of Satavahana University, said all individuals are equal before the law and entitled to the same fundamental rights, while observing that caste hierarchies continue to challenge the realisation of social justice.
Channa Basavaiah, former Dean of Social Sciences at Osmania University, said most reservation provisions reflect the spirit of the Preamble of the Constitution and argued that reservations should continue until caste-based inequalities are eliminated.
He also called for extending reservations across all sectors to ensure broader representation in government institutions.
Former Telangana Sahitya Academy Chairman Juluru Gouri Shankar said caste structures continue to influence Indian society and advocated proportionate reservations for backward classes based on population.
He also called for the establishment of a BC Atrocity Act and urged unity among OBC communities to safeguard reservation policies.
A large number of faculty members, staff, service association representatives and students attended the programme.
TNT TS
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