The whole concept of reservation is not only outdated, it reeks of vote bank politics. Consider this: The reason politicians give for having reservations in the first place is to uplift socially-neglected groups. If that is so then why are they using an economic approach rather than a social one?* And if they are trying economic upliftment then why don't they uplift the economically disadvantaged? Why are they targeting the socially backward?
If the policy-makers really wanted to uplift the downtrodden this is how they should have done it:
Instead of focusing on castes, they should focus on the economically-deprived. Because lack of opportunity is what we are trying to take account of. And money is much more a limiting factor (think of books, proper schooling) than caste is. Is there any point in reserving seats for a SC/ST candidate who's dad is an IAS officer? How about a brahmin who's dad sells vegetables?
Also seats should not be "reserved" for any group. What should be done is take into account the lack of opportunities a person has based on his family's income and increase his score by a percentage based on how low his family's income is. This way we ensure that meritocracy doesn't suffer because the increase in percentage represents lack of opportunity and not of merit.
This is also a good idea politically, because there are way more number of poor people than SC/STs. Also the support of those who are really concerned about the underprivilleged will be gained.
*i consider reservations in elite institutions economic in nature because of the evident job opportunities
5 comments:
A very necessary topic of the day, I can tell you this much, the reason why SC/ST were and still are given reservations ( along with the other ppl who get reservations )and not those other millions of people who don't even know how to read let alone write, those who have food twice a day.
All this is the work of late Dr.Ambedkar, who wrote the constitution. It is good he did what he could to uplift backward people namely SC/ST (back then). But India is no more ruled by British and the present generation politicians who run the government should have realized that long b4 & acted accordingly. Its not like the backward category ppl shud not be helped, but wat the ppl who are economically weak? The F***in losers drain money under the name of law ( thousands of crores a day ).Instead they can use that money in surveying about ppl who are in need and make a move forward to help them out.
[dexter]
yes, the whole focus is on determining which group of people(and on what basis) really need help and how that help should be given.
the first mistake constitution makers made was labelling the "backward" castes as Sceduled castes and tribes. That itself spreads racism. Even though they get reserved seats, in the eyes of many "upward castes", they are still low.
Reservations and privileges are another way of opression. Be it for women or for "backward" castes.
[Freya]
I doubt reservations add to racism. Although in a sense they do discriminate against deserving students/applicants whose only mistake was that they were born in an "upper" caste family. The "higher" caste restentment that is slowly simmering is also worrying.
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