Reservations: Noble Act, Evil Intent

The current OBC Quota Bill has been deferred to Winter session for the Parliament. And the youth 4 equality promises to scale up its protests in the coming days. While it is indeed a breach of trust on the part of the government, to take up the Bill while the matter is 'sub-judice' in Supreme Court, the reasons are entirely ethical in nature, and not legally restrictive. As such, the chaos that we saw in April and May, will continue not just on the streets, but on reams of paper and columns, with people on either side of the debate putting up their own versions of policy imperatives for the country.

People in favour of the additional Quota requirements for OBC, dig up statistics and theories called 'Affirmative Action' to support the view that Indian society needs such quotas for equitable development. In the Hindu column, it brings out a few key-points, which may help us in judging our own stand.

Let me list the sub-issues within this larger debate of Reservation:

1) The guiding principle behind reservation:

The Reservations were meant to provide fair representation for weaker sections within our society. The 'positive discrimination' is considered necessary to allow the disadvantaged and oppressed people to come up on the social ladder. In a huge country like ours with years of caste wars, a segregated society has emerged. To bridge the gaps, opportunities for growth need to be distributed. As such, the principle of reservation holds its ground quite well. But, the politics with its predictable opportunism, has learnt to play the emotions involved here on all sides, to distract people from its own failures. They have a tool to convince the majority of their sincerity in uplifting them, when they failed to provide them with the basic amenities of health and education. Its not the tool, but the thoughtless abuse of it, that disappoints the youth today.

2) Has Reservation worked?

In states like UP and Tamil Nadu, where they already have 50% or more as reserved quota in educational colleges aided/unaided, the reports and statistics paint a rosy detail which every pro-reservationist uses as a case for extending the quotas everywhere. But, look at the facts (for T.N): 80% of the state population is covered by the 69% quota. Also, three-fourths of the admissions are from two-fifths of reserved castes (the creamy layer). Nevertheless, there is no debating the fact, that reservation has helped in significant ways to empower the backward communities and provide them with better chances at making it to the top. But certainly, things can be much better, if only the policy-makers would think beyond petty politics.

3) Creamy layer?

The Youth For Equality's charter of demands
is quite reasonable, though bold. The government should come out with its intentions with this Bill, and how long it plans to continue with the quotas. The disadvantaged, can't claim to be disadvantaged forever.

4) Education standards? The real culprit

Amidst all this debate, the underlying thread of inadequate education infrastructure, keeps coming up. One may discount it, saying we can't wait for that to happen, but suspicions are bound to be there, when the government has the Right to Education Bill, 2005 lying un-implemented, with a projected expenditure requirement of 1.1% to 1.5% of GDP, and still going ahead with the Quota proposal, in such haste.

Ultimately, its not just the act, but the intention too which counts, and clearly, this time, there has been too much of drama with Arjun Singh and allegations of his rivalry with Manmohan Singh (read interview with Karan Thapar) , that an important issue of national importance has been given a hush-hush treatment.

Some more references:

1) Creamy Layer story of Kerala

2) Some Facts on Primary Education in India

3) Interim Report of the OverSight Committee on OBC quota implementation