Open Forum
New Delhi, 17 March 2016
Reservation Demand
REVIEW TO ENSURE
SOCIAL JUSTICE
By Dhurjati Mukherjee
The Jats in Haryana have raised the reservation bogey to scary
heights. They warn that if their demands, including withdrawal of criminal
cases following the mayhem that rocked the State last month, are not met they
would be back on the streets. But they are not the only ones in the clamour for
reservations. There have been similar agitations by the Patidars in Gujarat,
Kapus in Andhra Pradesh, Marathas in Maharashtra
and Gujjars in Rajasthan. These dominant landlords in the rural sector want to
corner further gains from the political system though there hangs a big
question mark on their deserving it.
The issue of reservations has come to the forefront not on
considerations of social justice but something else. A recent judgment of the
Supreme Court, in striking down the inclusion of Jats in the OBC list, clearly
pointed out that caste reservations are not effective as a tool of social justice.
Obviously, the criterion for reservations has to be focused on uplifting the
conditions of the poor and economically weaker sections. But recent studies
have revealed that only a segment of SCs and OBCs, who are quite well off have
been consistent beneficiaries while a significant portion of these categories
have been at the receiving end.
The rationale behind Dr Ambedkar’s reservations was to allow
SCs and STs to acquire skills and knowledge that would bring them to the
mainstream of life and activity. In fact, this was focused to confer
self-confidence in those who had been exploited over the years on false beliefs
and considerations.
It is difficult to find correlation between reservation and
poverty in most cases at this juncture. A few months back, The Economist reported that the proportion of dalits at the highest
levels of the civil service had increased from a mere 1.6 per cent in 1965 to
11.5 per cent in 2011 and even more at lower levels. But this is no reason to
justify reservation as it exists now because of the fact that its continuance
for so many decades has not had the desired effect.
The current system of reservation is not about equal
opportunity or even to bring the poor and the impoverished at par with the rest
of the society. It is about distributing the spoils of State power according to
caste. One may mention here that the traditional caste system amongst the Hindu
community has come in for criticism from sociologists in India and
abroad as through this there is an attempt to discriminate one section against
the other which, in a modern state, is really uncalled for.
Unlike Ambedkar, Mandal did not give importance to economic
factors as also objective education, but to what he called ‘social
backwardness’. This allowed various communities to start agitation in spite of
not being considered economically deprived. Not to speak of the OBCs, who
are far from being downtrodden and their being given reservation have
accelerated jealousy in rural areas. The Jat agitation is an example in this
regard.
The divide today is between the urban and rural sectors and
between the rich and the poor. Caste cannot be the solution, and instead class
is the real challenge. It goes without saying that even after more than six decades
of Independence
the social scene has changed dramatically with differing classes within the
same caste. The poorer sections have been languishing and the Government does
not have the courage to induct economic considerations as the basis for
reservations.
While the Scheduled Tribes category may be retained as it
is, those in the other categories may be considered after examining their
financial condition. Obviously, those who belong to LIG or MIG sections should
not be considered for reservations. Here the question of ‘creamy layer’ has to
be taken into consideration and kept in mind in considering the question of
reservation.
Another major problem regarding reservations is that in Government
departments reservations continue up to the post of Director (in Central
services). On the other hand, reservations do not allow general candidates to
get sufficient seats in medical institutes and IITs whereas below average SC
and ST candidates gain entry due to reservations.
As a result, general category candidates who may be more
meritorious cannot reach the top in government jobs. There is strong grievance
due to reserved category candidates jumping over them, resulting in decline in
performance. There have been suggestions, and quite justifiably so, that
even if the present reservation policy is allowed to continue, there should be
a single point reservation at the entry point only. Continuance of reservations
has no justification and should immediately be stopped.
One is aware of the fact that there have been several
reports regarding decline in teaching standards in colleges and universities
due to reserved category candidates, who are otherwise not capable enough,
being considered. In fact, this has been a major problem in academic institutions
in the country and experts are deliberating on this matter with all
seriousness. It is a well-known fact that if teaching standards do not improve,
this would have an adverse effect on students, who may find it difficult to
match themselves with changing times.
In a country where there is an imperative need for good and
efficient governance as also the necessity for bringing the deprived sections
into the mainstream of life and society, the reservation policy has to be
reviewed judiciously. Moreover, the question arises why Muslims and Christians should
pay the compensation as the logic of reservation is to compensate one set
of Hindus for their historical oppression.
Indeed, it is critical to re-examine the need for evolving
such a reservation policy that benefits the deprived and the economically weaker
sections. A total reorientation in policy may come after a committee is set up
with sociologists, economists, jurists as also political leaders from all
parties to delve into the issues from a rational and judicious standpoint
keeping in view the greater interest of the community. However, what is
necessary is political will and sincerity keeping in view the urgent need of
upgrading the living standards of the poor.
Following the constitution of a committee, its recommendations
when finalized would be a beginning towards resolving this contentious issue.
Though it appears that the recommendations may not be acceptable to those
enjoying the benefits of reservations for years together, there is need to put
an end to existing policies in the best interests of society. However,
what is needed most at this stage is political courage to transform an
irrational policy that has outlived its purpose in its present form. If the NDA
government is bold enough to review the reservation policy, it would show its
pragmatism and far-reaching consequences. ---INFA
(Copyright,
India News and Feature Alliance)
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