The system of reservations, if it has to continue at all, needs to be drastically revamped. Instead of focussing on caste and community, the new policy must take only economic backwardness as the criterion for affirmative action
Times have undergone a sea change since BR Ambedkar advocated reservation for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Constitution. Reservations showed results that many regressive social practices like untouchability and discrimination in awarding jobs — people from the lower castes were restricted to the lesser-paying work — have now been effectively eradicated.
Then, courtesy the Mandal Commission, the reservation increased from 11.5 per cent to almost 50 per cent as Other Backward Classes were also extended the benefits of affirmative action. The reason was similar, except that the emphasis was on economic backwardness rather than social discrimination.
Now, the Government is proposing to add ‘economically poor forward classes’ as yet another reserved category after huge demonstrations in some States by those belonging to the general category. It is obvious that this latest addition is not intended to uplift the poor but win over a vote-bank by promoting certain groups, no matter that they are mostly undeserving.
In the modern competitive world, the key to progress and growth of a country lies in promoting merit and deliverability. The focus must be on modern education and healthy competition. Understandably, the existent reservation policy which is driven by favouritism for political gains, is losing its appeal, as a growing population and trying times make it difficult to get jobs.
Also, the present quota system is getting increasingly complex, thereby, making it difficult to implement. It starts with certain communities pressing their demand for reservation by protesting on the streets and creating a ruckus. Then, the Government usually succumbs to their demands. It is not uncommon to find that one particular group is labelled as Scheduled Caste in one State but belongs to the general category in another State. Thus, a chaotic situation emerges. Consequently, anti-establishment sentiments are also fuelled. This system is not helping the incumbent regime, but is also proving a deterrent for the economic health of the country. Today, social status is not determined by caste only, but economic well-being also plays an important role.
In this context, even if the present system of reservation is allowed to continue, it must be amended so that special consideration is given only to those who are economically backward. let there be two groups — one rich and the other poor. Reserve 50 per cent of the seats for each class but without compromising on merit. It is here that Marxism must start and end. After all, this is the age of economic liberalisation and the country is being gradually but surely steered towards capitalism.
let the two-groups-only reservation system be an experiment for the Government. In fact, there is a chance that if it announces such a radical step to overhaul the reservation policy, basing it on economic considerations alone, the ruling coalition might just be able to resurrect itself.
The major advantage with such a policy is that groups such as economically backward Muslims, who have been marginalised, will be included in the reservation system, but without the Government inviting the charge of minority appeasement. This will have large-scale ramifications in the positive direction. Probity and accountability will replace corruption and fraud to some extent. The common man is not interested in doles; he wants a job that is a solution to his woes.
But jobs can only be created in a growing economy, where caste culture has no place. This issue has to be discussed across party lines, as the coalition that will take charge in 2014 will most probably be formed not out of political affinity but political compulsions.