Youth for Equality

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Youth for Equality (YFE) is an Indian organization involved with the 2006 anti-reservation protests, working 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).

Contents 1 Organization 2 Activities 3 See also 4 External links 5 Blogs 6 References

[edit] Organization

On April 5, 2006, Human Resources and 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, JIPMER, 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) and MAMC (Maulana Azad Medical College).

As of June 2006, YFE's website states that it has over 16,000 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 and JNU), parents of students, Residents' Welfare Associations (RWAs) (under the banner of United Residents Joint Action), and corporate bodies.

[edit] Activities

The Youth for Equality group was mainly responsible for the anti-reservation protests in 2006.^{[citation needed]} 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 have demanded that an expert committee comprising members from non-political organisations 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.^[1] The indefinite hunger strike organized by YFE was also very successful with nearly 150 students joining the hunger strike that enters the ninth day as on 23 May 2006.^[2] Resident doctors from all over India joined the protests crippling the health infrastructure of a number of cities.^[3][4]. This caused great human suffering, and lead the Supreme Court to criticise the doctors.

[edit] See also

• Bharat Uday mission
• Lok Paritran

Reservation in India
Indian caste system | Scheduled Castes and Tribes | Other Backward Classes | Forward Castes      Mandal Commission | 2006 Anti-reservation protests | Youth for Equality | Reservation policy in IITs | Poona Pact

[edit] External links

• Home Page
• Indian Blogosphere Mentions
• News Timeline - Youth For Equality

[edit] Blogs

• Youth for Equality
• Youth for Equality Blog
• Youth for Equality - Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
• Youth for Equality - Mumbai
• Youth for Equality - Chennai
• Youth for Equality - Pondicherry
• Youth for Equality - Punjab
• Youth for Equality - Meerut
• Youth for Equality - Kota
• Youth for Equality - West Bengal
• Youth for Equality - Sikkim
• Youth for Equality - Pune
• Youth for Equality - Gujarat
• Youth for Equality - Mysore

[edit] References

1. ^ GoM submits report, docs soften stand
2. ^ Quota: Striking doctors continued to go hungry
3. ^ Anti-quota protests spread
4. ^ Nationwide anti-quota stir continues