Times of India Lead India Contest

Times of India is running a Lead India Contest. In today's newspaper views of eight finalists (I guess Gujarat Region) are published on issues like Reservation, PSU Disinvestment, SEZs, Sting Operations and Tougher laws to tackle Terrorism. So far as PSU Disinvestment, SEZs and Sting Operations are concerned there seems to be more or less uniformity of views except for Kashyapi Awasthi who is not in favour of SEZs and Kiran Sethi who opts out airing her views on Economic Issues citing lack of "required knowledge".

Here are their views & my scribbles in red on them. Personally I am impressed with Devang Nanavati. SMS "LEAD DEVANG" to 58888 to vote for him.

Abhay Mangaldas | 42 | Masters in Communication | Hotelier | USP: Heritage conservation
Reservation
I believe in equal opportunity. If reservation is treated like a golfer’s handicap (as you improve your game, your handicap goes down), it can be a useful tool to level the score. Reservation is necessary for sections of society that have been discriminated against or have not enjoyed the same opportunities as their more fortunate counterparts. Reservation should be used as a ‘leg up’ till they catch up.
- Trying to be politically correct by not mentioning the time frame for "a leg up till they catch up"

Tougher laws to tackle terrorism
I think that vigilant intelligence combined with stricter enforcement of existing laws and a fast track judiciary can tackle terrorism better than any new ‘tougher’ laws. Bolting the stables before the horses flee can be more effective than tougher laws like Pota that go against basic human rights and are often misused.
- Seems to be torch bearer of human rights. Against tougher laws.

Devang Nanavati | 36 | LLB | Lawyer | USP: Advocate with excellent track record

Reservation
The time has come for us to revisit the whole principle of reservation under our Constitution. At the dawn of independence, there was a crying need for the upliftment of the socially and economically backward classes. However, the misuse of the relevant laws and resultant evils have overpowered the benefits of the system. Reservation was supposed to be limited to those for whom there was no level playing field. Instead, proponents of reservation are now advocating it for the private sector which sends shivers down my spine. Merit alone can decide these posts.
- No attempt to be politically correct. Against Reservations.

Tougher laws to tackle terrorism
Special means to counter terrorism are the call of the day. The one argument that comes up against tougher laws is human rights violations. If the right kind of direction, guidance and compassion emanates from the top echelons, the ‘human rights violations’ issue can also be mitigated to a great extent.
- Wants tougher laws and has a answer for the argument of human rights violations.

Kashyapi Awasthi | 28 | M Ed | Lecturer| USP: Researching school dropout rate in Gujarat
Reservations
External reliance disables, self reliance enables.’ I am against reservations. For, if it was doing any good to the marginalised groups, the number of such groups would have decreased in sixty years. It is only targeted to gain votes. Instead, these groups should be given exclusive coaching for developing language and expression so that they can interact with the mainstream and become at par with them. This would perhaps reduce the discrimination, otherwise we are compromising with the quality and doing no good to the needy.
- Clear in her mind. Doesnt want Reservations.

Tougher laws to tackle terrorism
India needs tougher implementation of laws where there are no double standards. A criminal should be dealt with irrespective of his/her stardom or political affiliations. We know of the Jessica Lall case, Best Bakery case, Madhumita case and so on. So what we need is strong enforcement of the existing laws and not more stringent laws.
- Stresses tougher implementation of existing laws... hey what has terrorism to do with Jessica Lall, Best Bakery and Madhumita case....

Kiran Bir Sethi | 41 | NID alumni | Educationist | USP: Fighting for open space for children in city
Reservation
Reservation is a stop gap/band-aid solution to a much deeper malady that society faces. Rather than tackling inequity as a philosophy and not as a political mandate, our leaders so far have seen ‘reservation’ or the lack of it only as a topic to leverage votes. Even though our governments may change, or philosophy towards inequity should not – no matter which government is in power. How can the fact that we need to reduce the gap between and in the populace even be up for discussion every 5 years? If the government thinks that ‘reserving’ seats without looking at building competence will solve the issue, it is sadly mistaken.
- Seems to be upset (& rightly so) with politicians on the issue and is against the policy of reservations (hope i guessed it right her initial 3-4 lines are hard to understand :)...)

Tougher laws to tackle terrorism
Do we even have laws for tackling terrorism? The world has no idea how to tackle terrorism. Case in point – Bush and his ‘we will smoke them out’ attack. The world today is a lot more scared and dangerous place since 9/11. Again – we have stop gap/band-aid solutions that don’t result in any lasting effect or change. Have laws, and people will work on how to break them. Terrorism is unfortunately here to stay – a legacy of our prejudices and our lack of awareness. We need to tackle it, but don’t we need to understand it first?
- Wants to understand terrorism before tackling it. I guess its just one part of multi dimensional approach to takle terrorism. It can not substitute tougher laws.

Jay Vasavada | 34 | M Com | Writer, orator | USP: Spreads awareness about social causes
Reservation
I am against reservation as it has not served its true purpose. Instead of forgetting “identity by birth”, it has strengthened it! Even without reservations the Patel community has outshone in the last 6 decades despite social discrimination. As the Supreme Court has stated, the creamy layer has not been defined and reservation must be limited.
- Well Said.

Tougher laws to tackle terrorism
I firmly believe that one should answer a question in the language it is asked. Terrorists understand the language of terror, fear, violence and barbarism. Terrorism attracting poor uneducated youth is a misconception because we find affluent people in it. Even today we haven’t delivered justice to millions of people who lost their lives 14 years back, while Israel replied to kidnapping of two soldiers by destroying the Beirut airport.
- Again Well Said. Tit for Tat should be out reply.

Subroto Das | 41 | Hospital Management | Social Entrepreneur | USP: Emergency health care
Reservation
I have a middle path view on reservation. Reservation is necessary but populist democracy run on the plank of reservation is deplorable. Our constitution makers rightly justified reservation due to social and economic injustice meted to the underprivileged, pre-independence. Unfortunately, reservation has made caste the determinant factor. Since lower castes are still oppressed we need reservation but with constitutional caps like upper limit and timeline, economics and not caste to be criteria, no reservations for second generation ‘above poverty line’.
- As he said he wants take middle path and remove creamy layer from reservations, put a cap on % of reservaitons & also specify time frame for reservations and substitute caste based reservations with economic criteria based reservations. I think this is the best way to move forward on the issue.

Tougher laws to tackle terrorism
There is no need to legislate tougher anti-terrorism laws. What is needed is “zero tolerance for terrorists within framework of existing laws”. Tougher laws will only lead to further oppression of locals and minorities driving them closer to terrorism ideologues. Instead of creating new laws, our investigation and prosecution machinery have to be streamlined.
- Wants “zero tolerance for terrorists within framework of existing laws”. Sounds good in theory but doesnt work in realty.

Ruzan Khambatta | 36 | M Sc | IT Entrepreneur | USP: Self-made businesswoman
Reservation
No, it is not required. Reservation, whose genesis lies in our constitution was meant for a specific period to uplift the weaker sections but is now used as a political tool to divide. Reservation fosters discrimination and is the root cause for communal disharmony. The need of the hour is “united we stand”. Today we have to be globally competitive and reservation is contrary to competition.
- Well Said.

Tougher laws to tackle terrorism
Terrorism is a global threat which is growing because of absence of strict laws. While few countries support terrorism, some are a breeding grounds for terrorists. To keep them under control tougher laws should be made. Ultimately governments need to wake up to the fact that anti-terrorism laws by themselves cannot end terrorism.
- Well Said again.

Malay Mahadevia | 44 | Dentistry | Corporate Honcho | USP: Infrastructure development
Reservation
In a country like India which has a gap in distribution of wealth between people reservation of a different type is required. Reservation is for equality – for social engineering. If reservation is considered on the basis of caste, in future country will be recognised on the basis of the same which will be a shame. Uniform norms/criteria for reservation can be structured depending on the financial capabilities of people suitable to their inherent competence and attitude without compromising the merit.
- For Reservations but wants a new way so as not to compromise merit.

Tougher laws to tackle terrorism
There are already existing laws which deal with terrorism linked with organised crime for commercial gains and these laws are sufficient enough to punish if government desires to do so. However, the real problem is implementation of the laws by state governments.
- Feels existing laws are good enough to tackle terrorism but are rendered inadequate by politicians. I guess correct so far as second part is concerned.