EWS Relaxation Demand Resounds in JNU, Jamia, Delhi University: Students Call for Equality

Students are challenging the stringent provisions concerning land ownership, building, and age limitations imposed on EWS candidates, decrying the perceived discrimination when compared to Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation criteria.

The clamor for relaxation in Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) reservation criteria has reverberated through the corridors of Delhi's premier universities. In a series of organized programs at Delhi University (DU), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and Jamia Millia Islamia University, students fervently advocate for a fairer allocation of opportunities within the educational landscape.

Students are challenging the stringent provisions concerning land ownership, building, and age limitations imposed on EWS candidates, decrying the perceived discrimination when compared to Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation criteria.

Amidst the gatherings, which saw a significant turnout on Tuesday, discussions centered on the urgent need for relaxation in age restrictions and land plot prerequisites for EWS applicants.

Students are demanding relaxation of land ownership criteria, which mandates five acres of agricultural land and a residential area of 1000 square feet. They are also demanding for parity in age limits and land ownership requirements, pointing out the absence of such stringent conditions for OBC reservation eligibility.

The issue has not gone unnoticed on the national stage, with senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh raising concerns in the Rajya Sabha during the previous parliamentary session. Singh's call for relaxation in EWS reservation standards resonates with the sentiments echoed by students, who demand equality akin to OBC reservation privileges.

“We urge the government to ensure parity. If a student from the general category possesses equivalent resources to one from the OBC category, why perpetuate discrepancies in age relaxation and land ownership clauses?" demanded one of the students.

Singh's parliamentary address underscored alarming statistics, revealing stark disparities in EWS representation across various government services, including the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The restrictive nature of EWS reservation criteria has resulted in a paltry turnout of candidates, particularly affecting girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

As the chorus for EWS relaxation grows louder within academia, students and advocates remain steadfast in their pursuit of equitable opportunities, urging policymakers to address systemic inequalities and ensure a level playing field for all aspirants.