Mysuru
Retired Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde has said that economic criteria should be given importance to prevent the misuse of reservation benefits.
Speaking after inaugurating a seminar on “Women’s Reservation in General Elections”, organised by the Mysuru Taluk unit of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat at Maharani Women’s Arts College on Tuesday, he questioned the present system of reservation, and sought to know whether the children of the President or judges should also be entitled to reservation. At present, nearly 75 per cent of the reservation benefits are reportedly being availed of by economically well-off sections. Instead, the benefits should reach those who are economically disadvantaged within the respective communities.
Justice Hegde said there should be no discrimination in society. A woman had ruled the country as Prime Minister for 16 years even without reservation, and so, women must be provided the opportunities they deserve.
Chamaraja constituency MLA K. Harish Gowda, who presided, said providing reservation to women could help reduce corruption in administration. Without political reservation, men would not allow women to contest elections. Therefore, reservation was necessary to ensure women get opportunities to enter electoral politics.
Dr. Kavyashree, Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Maharani Women’s Arts College, presented a paper and said reservation was necessary to ensure women get opportunities as well as recognition of their eligibility and capabilities.
District Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Maddikere Gopal, senior journalist Amshi Prasanna Kumar, and college principal Prof. M.S. Anita also spoke.
KSP Mysuru Taluk president A.C. Manjunath and district vice-president Dairy Venkatesh were present on the dais.
District KSP vice-president Zakir Hussain welcomed the gathering, while former district unit president Dr. Y.D. Rajanna delivered the introductory address. Jeevitha compered the programme. Cultural Committee convenor Sundaresh introduced Justice Santosh Hegde.
KSP district treasurer and organising secretaries Prashanth Arya and Radhivulla Khan, taluk presidents Saligrama Madhuchandra and Nanjangud’s Latha Muddumohan, among others, participated.
