Caste Based Reservation in India — Why? Suggestion….Way Forward…

What are reservations ?

Deprivation is only one measure of caste discrimination in India. Reservations for the SCs and STs were put in place in the Indian constitution, immediately after independence, as a means to recognise the historical injustice meted out to these groups and to implement provisions by which groups would have better access to resources and opportunities that were hitherto denied to them.

Scholars over the years have not been in agreement over the scope and implication of the term “reservations” itself. Some believe that B R Ambedkar had a larger social programme of enhancing fraternity among citizens in a free, sovereign, republic. They believe that instead of holding the current generation responsible for what their ancestors and forebears did, the Indian constitution advocates positive discrimination and reservations in the spirit of “fraternity.” According to this vision, castes would gradually cease to make any difference in public life.

Why reservation needed?

• To correct the historical injustice faced by backward castes in the country.
• To provide a level playing field for backward section as they can not compete with those who have had the access of resources and means for centuries.
• To ensure adequate representation of backward classes in the services under the State.
• For advancement of backward classes.
• To ensure equality as basis of meritocracy i.e all people must be brought to the same level before judging them on the basis of merit.

Argument Against Reservation

• Reservation in state services led to divisions and enmity among government employees, vitiating the atmosphere at workplace.
• Eradication, not perpetuation of caste was the objective of the reservation policy but Caste Based Reservation only perpetuate the notion of caste in society.
• Reservation was introduced to ensure that the historically underprivileged communities were given equal access to resources but irrespective of the economic progress they continue to remain socially disadvantaged.
• Reservation destroys self-respect, so much so that competition is no longer on to determine the best but the most backward.
• Reservations are the biggest enemy of meritocracy which is the foundation of many progressive countries.
• It has became a tool to meet narrow political ends through invoking class loyalties and primordial identities.
• The dominant and elite class within the backward castes has appropriated the benefits of reservation and the most marginalised within the backward castes have remained marginalised.
• Reservation has become the mechanism of exclusion rather than inclusion as many upper caste poors are also facing discrimination and injustice which breeds frustration in the society.

Suggestion

• The reservation benefits should flow to the vast majority of underprivileged children from deprived castes; not to a few privileged children with a caste tag.
• High ranks officials families, high income professionals and others above a certain income should not get the reservation benefits especially in government jobs.
• Fair and practical ways to help needy person from each community through reservation is possible and necessary.
• The process of reservation should filter the truly economically deprived individuals and bring them all to justice
• Revolutionary changes in the education system at the grass-roots level is need of the hour.
• There is also need for awareness generation because while the unreserved segments, keep on opposing the provision, the neediest sections from within the reserved segments are hardly aware about how to get benefited from the provision or even whether there are such provisions exists.
• The radical solutions like excluding the entire creamy layer among all castes from reservation and developing their capabilities instead of offering them reservation for admission to higher education or jobs on a platter.

Way Forward

• Reservation is fair, as far as it provides appropriate positive discrimination for the benefit of the downtrodden and economically backward Sections of the society.
• But when it tends to harm the society and ensures privileges to some at the cost of others for narrow political ends, it should be done away with, as soon as possible.
• The communities excluded from reservations harbour animosity and prejudice against the castes included in the reservation category.
• When more people aspire for backwardness rather than of forwardness, the country itself stagnates.
• Meritocracy should not be polluted by injecting relaxation of entry barriers, rather than it should be encouraged by offering financial aid to the underprivileged.
• A strong political will is indispensable to find an equilibrium between justice to the backwards, equity for the forwards and efficiency for the entire system.

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