Reservation Policy In India
Two thousand years ago the great philosopher Aristotle said, "Whenever equal behavior is treated, even then injustice arises and when uneven behavior is treated equally". It is a deep statement that is in the heart of equality- basic human rights. Every human being deserves the same treatment. The most important, comprehensive, and violent discrimination in India is the old caste system. The main idea of Gandhiji wast to give equal rights to Dalits. Untouchability was abolished by the Constitution in 1952 and it was declared a crime. Reservation in India is a supportive action taken by the government for fixed quotas where some seats in private and government institutes are reserved for socially and educationally backward communities, scheduled castes and tribes. Leaders like Rajarshee Shahu Maharaj, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar took initiatives to help backward class people. They started giving free education to them. However, there are state laws that exceed this 50% limit and are subject to litigation in the Supreme Court. For
example, caste-based reservations are at 69%, and in Tamilnadu state, it applies to about 87% of the population.
Now the question arises whether there is a need to review the reservation policy in India or be with the tradition? The original idea of reservation was magnificent because it was in all good intentions. Initially, the percentage of reservations was 12.5% for SCs and 5% for the STs but these percentages were subsequently enhanced decade by decade. The SCs and STs in India together constitute 24.56%, OBCs 51%, economically weaker sections 10%, and Muslims 12 percent. All this adds up to 97%. When the whole country is backward, where is the justification for special measures?
We have tried out the reservation idea for 50 years. But they have made no difference in their conditions. This policy is being bartered for a vote. It has become a tool to meet narrow political ends. 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 ensure privileges to some at the cost of others, it should be done away with.
By Bidhubhusan Rath
X
Community Member of ThoughtSeal