Reservation- perpetuating the draconian caste system

 

Reservation- perpetuating the draconian caste system

The reservation policy known as the policy of protective discrimination or affirmative action to benefit the historically disadvantaged-socially and equationally backward- group of citizens is being extended indefinitely, defeating the very objective of a temporary measure that the founding fathers of Indian Republic adapted to correct the social imbalance in society. The political representation in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies to SCs and STs, originally meant just for 10 years from the commencement of the Constitution in 1950, is extended after every ten years.  The Constitution (126^th Amendment) Act,2019 has further extended the reservation to January 25,2030. 

 

Correspondingly, the benefits of reservation in educational institutions and government jobs are also extended to SCs, STs and other backward classes (not castes), under the Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution, the limit of reservation not exceeding 50% overall laid down by the Supreme Court. The policy of reservation has become an instrument of competitive vote bank politics and politics of expediency, with political parties seeing it as an opportunity to appease every social group or community that wants reservation. 

 

Pandit Nehru was opposed to reservation. In his letter, June 27,1961, to Chief Ministers, he had emphasized on the need to empowering the backward classes by giving them access to good quality education, and not by reserving jobs based on caste:

 

“This necessitates our getting out of the old habit of reservations and particular privileges being given to this caste or that group…It is true that we are tied up with certain rules and conventions about helping Scheduled Castes and Tribes. They deserve help but, even so, I dislike any kind of reservation, more particularly in service. I react strongly against anything which leads to inefficiency and second-rate standards. I want my country to be a first-class country in everything. The moment we encourage the second-rate, we are lost… The only real way to help a backward group is to give opportunities for good education…Everything else is provision of some kind of crutches which do not add to the strength or health of the body…lay stress on bright and able boys and girls. I have no doubt that there is a vast reservoir of potential talent in this country if only we can give it opportunity...But if we go in for reservations on communal and caste basis, we swamp the bright and able people and remain second-rate or third-rate. I am grieved to learn of how far this business of reservation has gone based on communal consideration…It has amazed me to learn that even promotions are based sometimes on communal and caste considerations. This way lies not only folly, but disaster.”

 

The merit is not the monopoly of forward castes; nor is the inefficiency due to backward castes. Given equal opportunities of learning and fair system of recruitment, our youth could compete for any public office, irrespective of their family background and, social, educational and economic status.  The reservation has denied the youth the right to self-dignity and a sense of pride of achieving something   with their own efforts without relying on any crutches. Owing to the quota system and carrying the backlog of reserved posts, many vacancies remain unfilled across the sectors, leading to inefficiency and poor public services. It is bizarre that even within the services there is a policy of promotion based on quota, not filling the vacancies by opening the unfilled posts to general category, even when the reserved candidates are unavailable. Take for instance, in 44 central universities, including Delhi university, there are over 40% sanctioned teaching positions vacant.; University of Allahabad and Central University of Odisha having more than 70% vacancies. In the reserved categories, 55% of OBC posts, 41% of SC and 39% of ST posts are vacant.  It is ridiculous to think of reservation in every field, ignoring the historical backwardness and the choice of professions of various communities determined by several factors. Today’s bright youngsters are not interested in teaching profession and civil services. So, who is benefiting by reservation?

 

The quota system has not benefited the people who deserved it. Of course, some marginalised sections of SCs, STs and so-called OBCs have been empowered and they managed to acquire political and economic clout, but they have not been able to get rid of the stigma of birth.  The Ambedkarites are happy to empower themselves, but not interested in fight for the ‘annihilation’ of the caste system; atrocities against the Dalits and lower castes continue across the country unabated, even after 75 years of independence and despite the constitution guaranteeing equality and justice. Jitin Ram Manjhi, former Chief Minister of Bihar, who belongs to scheduled caste, said that how the deity and temple were cleaned soon after he visited the temple. And instead of giving more and more reservations to SCs, STs, and OBCs, the priority of Indian State should be trying to totally end untouchability and caste-discrimination, while giving equal opportunities to all communities.

 

The reservation is only serving the vested interests.  To crave for backwardness just to derive benefits of quota in educational institutions and government services, even by Brahmins and forward castes, is to degrade- mortgaging one’s self-respect and pride. The reservation did not provide equal opportunities within each group or community. Consequently, different castes and tribes have not benefited from reservation equally. Almost in all categories of beneficiaries among scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes, there is a growing sense of deprivation amongst different categories, leading to internal dissension. In Punjab, the Valmiki Samaj is asking for a separate quota of reservations on the ground that Ramadasis and Mazbis have cornered the benefits. Likewise, Chamars in Uttar Pradesh and Mahars in Maharashtra have largely benefited from the reservations more than other castes. Similar accusations have been made against the Meena community by other scheduled tribes. Problems of this kind are manifold in the case of other backward classes, as in each state there are dominant groups, with economic and political clout, who reap the benefits of reservations. There are Ezhavas in Kerala, Nadars and Thevars in Tamil Nadu, Vokkalligas and Lingayats in Karnataka, Lodhs and Koeris in Central India, Yadavs and Kurmis in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and Jats in Rajasthan, which, despite their dominant status, have been clubbed as backward classes to derive benefits of reservations. The Marathas, the most powerful community, the descendants of Chhatrapati Shivaji, are on a warpath demanding the economic backward status. 

  

The Quota system is only perpetuating the draconian caste system, disturbing the social fabric.  On August 25, 2021, a bench of Madras High Court of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P.D. Audikesavalu, while disallowing 10% quota for economically weaker section among forward castes in MBBS admissions, under the All-India Quota, has observed:

 

“Rather than the caste system being wiped away, the present trend seems to perpetuate it by endlessly extending a measure that was to remain only for a short duration to over the infancy and, possible, the adolescence of the republic. Though the life of a nation state may not be relatable to the human process of ageing, but at over 70, it ought, probably to be more mature.” And limiting the OBC quota at 27%, the court further ruled: “It may, however, be observed as a footnote that the entire concept of reservation that appears to have been addressed by the Constituent Assembly while framing the constitution may have been turned on its head by repeated amendments and the veritable reinvigoration of the caste system and even extending it to denominations where it does not exist- instead of empowering citizens so that merit may ultimately decide matters.”

 

We made a mockery of the whole reservation system. It is pertinent to ask: Is India a conglomeration of communities, each of which deserves proportionate representation in public life according to its demographic strength? Is India a republic of individual citizens, each of whom must have fundamental rights, access to equitable opportunities and the choice to rise above their narrow group or caste -based identifies? Let us not invite social unrest by our short-sighted approach to public life and the issues of governance. It is the obligation of political parties that rule the country to integrate the diverse social groups, which often pursue mutually exclusive interests, into the mainstream India and not to exploit fissiparous tendencies for electoral gains.