Naah! I am not going to give any lecture on how the reservation that our government gifted us based on caste is good. Yes yes, I too believe that it can have severe consequences by further widening the gap among people belonging to different castes. Isn’t it evident when people from general category cannot make it to their most desired college (or job) and that horrible feeling when they see their very good friend sitting right there even with lower grades (or experience)? Oops! No longer a very good friend!
But, yeah, I do justify this “reservation thing”. I wish that no one will break my head after reading this sentence since I am also from general category and yes, I am justifying it.
Just to give a glimpse of on what I am going to build up my explanation, here is an example.
Public sector jobs are divided into 4 categories: Group I (or A), II (or B), III (or C) and IV (or D). In 1959, out of all the people who took jobs in public sector, approximately only 1% were SC in group A jobs, around 2% in group B, 9% in group C and 17% in group D. Explicitly, very less number of high profile jobs was taken by SC and their proportion increases with jobs that require lesser and lesser qualification or skill. With reservation (or vote bank politics, this is what we all say) tightening its grip over the Indian society, the numbers mentioned above risen to 10%, 12%, 16% and 21% till 1995. Clearly, a positive change, a change towards equality in terms of caste. Same is the story can be recited for other backward classes, out of total OBCs, only 10%, 10%, 20% are there in group A, B and C jobs, rest 60% are still performing group D jobs.
Is this fair to have such low proportion of backward classes in high profile jobs, isn’t this come under caste inequality? Or do you still believe it’s unfair to give these people a chance to come in proportion equal to the general category ones? Yes, I agree, the way it’s done is actually an approach which is seen as “get one by kicking one” (simply, people from backward classes occupy the seats which many people think that they don’t deserve it and hence, *CLASHES*). But, reservation in itself isn’t bad if you look at the above data.
Again I am saying, bad could be the way in which it’s implemented. Why do we need to reserve seats in an organisation which already has limited seats and hence, people without reservation have to suffer. Why cannot our government simply increase the number of seats or colleges which will provide admission only to backward classes? Even in the current system, many times, people already with resources take the advantage of this reservation system and people who actually need it cannot make it to that level. So, who is benefiting from such a system? Clearly, no one.
Reservation in itself is a way to enhance caste-equality in India. And you have to agree, we are not at all free from this social evil of caste inequality even in the 21st century, it was there and it is still there! You may criticize the way “reservation” is implemented in our country but not to criticize “reservation” or people taking its advantage requires a better understanding of caste inequalities persisting in our society. After all, we don’t generally shout on women reservation, but we do become aggressive when someone talks about caste reservation!
