This is one area which interests Indian politician more than anything else. It is one thing which politician love to bring on table. But b4 I say anything I will try to put the definition of Reservation.
Reservation in our system is a quota system by which a percentage is reserved for a certain class of people in order to mitigate backwardness of the socially and educationally backward communities which includes SC, ST. This is done to increase an adequate representation in Government and in Public sector unit. It is intended to increase the social diversity in campuses and workplaces.
But question arises why reservation was required at the 1st place. When India got independent some people were well established and over 90perc people were still to establish them self in main stream facilities of an independent country. The framers of the constitution believed that oppressed and people who were denied respect from majority of the class were under represented in nation building activity. The Constitution laid down 15% and 7.5% of vacancies to government aided educational institutes and for jobs in the government/public sector, as reserved quota for the SC and ST candidates respectively for a period of five years, after which the situation was to be reviewed. This period was routinely extended by the succeeding governments. Without getting into the details of percentage of reservation and the year it came into existence, it can just be said that this reservation system was rising so fast in Indian culture, every other caste wanted representation for their caste, that Supreme Court of India ruled that reservation cannot exceed 50% which it judged would violate equal access guaranteed by constitution.
To name a few type of reservation in our country: 1) Caste based 2) Gender based 3) Religion based (Yes religion based..... Tamil Nadu Gov has allotted 3.5% seats each to Muslims and Christians) 4) State of Domicile. Some reservations are also made for Sons/Daughter/grandson of Freedom Fighters, Physically handicapped, Sports personalities, NRI (in educational institutes specially), dependent of armed forces etc. So name any minority section of the society and our constitution has provided reservation some way or the other.
Yes reservation might be required at the time when we become republic. But my actual concern is do we need reservation now? May be very small group of people still require reservations but should we continue with the same percentage of reservation for all groups or should it be reduced. Time has come for meritorious people to get their dues. Rural India is now moving towards urbanization. Percentage of middle class is increasing day by day. The gap between creamy layer and non creamy layer is reducing. May be our politician should think the way our judiciary is thinking, the Supreme Court of India upheld the law that provides for 27% reservation for Other Backward Castes (OBCs) in educational institutions supported by the Central government, while ruling that the creamy layer among the OBCs should be excluded from the quota.
The points that I want to make regarding the reservation system of our country are:
1) Reservation has been a tool to meet narrow political ends. For example in recent days when woman reservation bill was put into Rajya Sabha through ruling party there was not enough or I will say no discussion about the bill the bill was passed in hurry in present of commanders in Rajya Sabha. Few parties (SP and RJD) were interested in getting special percentage reserved for some particular caste’s women. Just to improve their vote bank count. In a democratic country (as big as India) a 33% reservation bill for people’s representative in parliament was passed without discussion is not acceptable.
2) I find right to equality – fundamental right – goes for toss when we talk for reservation. Allocating quota is a form of discrimination which is contrary to the right to equality. I believe improving from grass root level would have done wonders for SC, ST than reservations. Five year plans to improve their condition starting from 1950 would have done wonders for suppressed class than reservations. People from these groups prefer to get through Quota system than actually fighting with creamy layer. Society in which 50% percentage of people looking to enter through back doors cant progress as fast as the people in which competition is 100%.
3) Was there any survey @ the time of putting reservation into our Constitution? I suppose at the most a committee report must have been considered while deciding the percentage. Is the policy of reservation has been subject to widespread social or political audit? This is the right time for reservation policy to be examined properly. It’s time that its benefits have to be gauged over a span of 60 years. We are very good in forming committees for any rhythm and reason why not form a committee to access the need to maintain these reservations.
4) It’s time to keep reservation, if it is required, according to economic condition of people or group. Family or group below poverty line should get reservations (not just ST, SC or OBC) than people who are economically good. Even people from fwd class economically below poverty line should get benefits.
5) Just wanted to say something regarding Women bill. If this bill is required at all then why not 25% may be 20% why it is 33%. I don’t have answer for this. And if we want equality then why not 50%. In our country women has always been treated as suppressed class. Discussion regarding this bill was making rounds since 1988. If we would have started from that (1988) time in giving special attention to girl child education and giving equal wages in all fields to female class then by this year there would have been adequate woman representative of this class in all fields including in parliament. Now just making a reservation without actually working for improvement of female class will not make any difference rather it will push them back more. Male politicians will be putting female member of their family in elections and use them as a puppet. And believe me it is bound to happen in male dominant society of ours. Do I have to give example for this? A female who actually wants to stand in an election will do anyways reservation or no reservation.
6) I believe who are tax payers or children of tax payers should not come under the reservation umbrella. This will insure the actual purpose of reservation that is to achieve social justice for poorest of the poor people in India. Some may argue that this will encourage people not to pay taxes. But taxes are law in our country and people can land in jail if they fail to pay their taxes.
7) Unique ID is coming for every citizen of India and first phase of people will be getting their ids by latter half of this year. This will help government to make right decision in reservation area. But only point is can any ruling party take decisions to abolish reservation for some group if that group doesn’t require reservation. Can they actually do that without worrying about the vote bank? Putting reservation for some purpose is very easy in the name of equality but once it is achieved can that be abolished?
I believe now time has come for government to act at grass root level rather than just do the talking for grass root level people. Emphasis should be given to proper primary and secondary education so that the group under- represented in higher education institutes and workplaces become natural competitors. Government have taken steps to increase the seats of prestigious higher education institutions. Like increase in seats and no of collages of IIT and IIM but increase should be mapped with infrastructure and faculty members. I believe this is the right time for government to gather latest data on Caste wise population, education attainment, occupational achievements, wealth etc by using IT. And make the decision how to go about it.
Not only government but different castes can take care of their own community by running their own educational institutes and providing employment opportunities without any government interference without breaking the rule of the land.
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