Affirmative Action Å Policy of Votes or Necessity:-
In an unprecedented move the Supreme Court stayed the law providing for 27 per cent quota for other backward classes (OBCs) in centrally run educational institutions from the academic year 2007-08 which opened floodgate for the discussions on Reservation Policy implantation structure.
Founders of modern India, who gave the policy of affirmative action decisive shape, had two approaches to social justice. One was the principle of “equality in law” whereby the State should not deny any person equality before the law. The second was the principle of “equality in fact” which gives the State an affirmative duty to remedy existing inequalities.
Opponents of affirmative action see a contradiction in the two whereas proponents of affirmative action argue that the two constitutional doctrines supplement rather than contradict each other. True equality can be achieved only if the state maintains an integrated society but adopts unequally beneficial measures to help those previously disadvantaged.
Reservations are intended to increase the social diversity in campuses and workplaces by lowering the entry criteria for certain identifiable groups that are vilely under-represented in proportion to their numbers in general population. However caste is most used criteria to identify under represented groups. There are multiple factors of exclusion and discrimination working in society: - race, gender, economic factors etc. There are other identifiable under represented groups like Gender (Women are under represented), State of domicile (North Eastern States, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh are under represented), rural people etc as revealed by Government of India sponsored National Family Health and National Sample surveys. These factors have often been overlooked and more emphasis is been put onto caste. Cast related reservations focuses only on caste at the cost of addressing social justice concerns more effectively for the sake of narrow political ends.
The logic for continuing affirmative action for SC and STs is based on the following set of arguments:
Inter group economic disparity: there are various standard of living indicators that establish persistent inter group disparity between SC/STs on the one hand and the rest of the population on the other. In the absence of reliable income figures at the national level, monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) is routinely used as a proxy for standard of living.
Dalits continue to suffer from a “stigmatized ethnic identity” due to their untouchable past and there is corresponding social backwardness.
If equality of opportunity between castes is the objective, then affirmative action is needed to provide a level playing field to members of SC/ST communities.
Finally (arguably) social policy ought to compensate for the historical wrongs of a system that generated systematic disparity between caste groups and actively discriminated against certain groups.
But it is worthwhile to note that reservation is a phenomenon unique to India and is different from affirmative action which is practiced in many other countries. The main difference between the two is that in affirmative action the amount of concessions to be made in order to increase representation in an underrepresented group is at the discretion of individual organizations, whereas the reservation system in India is based on statutory quota that must be met. Reservation only on the basis of cast tends to perpetuate caste in the society rather than eliminate it as a factor of social consideration, as envisaged by Indian constitution. Discrimination on the basis of Caste is sheer injustice to those who are discriminated. Nay caste is decided based on birth, so it will never get changed. The advantage of this system is that this cannot be changed. While a person can change his religion, and his economic status can fluctuate, the caste is permanent.
The Indian constitution prohibits any discrimination based on religion, race, caste, sex and place of birth but, while providing equality of opportunity for all citizens, the constitution also contains special clauses to ensure reservation, "for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes"
By accepting that a person is from an SC/ST caste , creed or community , the constitution itself is giving recognition to the fact that the people belonging to that particular group are 'lower' and hence require support for their uplifting... Although I am myself vocal about supporting the financially weak who deserve .
Noted intellectual Mr. Trivendra Saran observes that present Quota does not fulfill the objective of affirmative actions. He further states that the Quota System should have provision for a Monitoring Committee which should look for exclusion of Creamy Layer ( On the basis of Financial Status) & also those who has already achieved the objective of affirmative programs and inclusion of those who are still downtrodden & are yet to achieve the supposed stature. Even the Apex court reiterated the need to keep the creamy layer outside the purview of reservation on the ground that it was a constitutional requirement.What should be the basis of Creamy Layer :( Economic/ Social/ Education) is also to be answered.
Bottom Line:
Reservation was originally supposed to last 10 years in India. It has continued to date. Has not it attained its objective. If no then why it has not been successful?
Remember reservation is a wheel chair that destroys people’s ability to walk on his own feet when he does need it. Are we creating a lame society?
Reservation in education system is not affirmative action rather it would dilute meritocracy. Meritocracy does not mean father has to transfer his wealth to the best person ignoring his son and mother has to feed best child ignoring her own child. To put dilution of meritocracy simply put it that we don’t want Indians to make better bridges, roads or technology.
When it comes to politicians, why they shy away from implementing the reservation in parliament when it comes to women’s reservation. Remember women are most ignored member/deprived of rights in the family since long in Indian Culture in all castes.
The quota system is against the principle of Equal Opportunity for every one.
Why don’t we have Talent management policy in our country?
You have the option of making people aware about this.
