The Reservation Policy in India is a process of reserving certain percentage of seats (almost up to 50%) in Government educational institutions and Government jobs for a certain class of people.
In Central Government funded higher education institutions, 15% of available seats are presently reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) and 7.5% for Scheduled Tribe (ST) students apart from 27% reservation for Other Backward Class (OBCs) totalling to 49.5%.
OBC classifies castes which are socially or educationally or economically disadvantaged. 4.5% of Government jobs and education places are reserved for the minority which includes Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis), carved from the existing quota reserved for OBC.
Decades ago, the reservation policy was adopted in our Country with a reason to uplift certain castes that were subjugated to atrocities, social and economic backwardness due to the prevalent dominance of caste system in the Society.
Just recently, the Maratha community of Maharashtra held an agitation demanding reservation. Some months ago, it was the Patels of Gujarat. Both these communities are in no way socially and economically backward. We have glaring example of the Brahmin community of Tamil Nadu having very cleverly churn themselves down in the league of the backward bandwagon and gaining enormously from the reservation system.
It is no hidden truth that all these agitations for reservations have political backing. With the reservation system just becoming a tool for politicians to gain vote banks, the real reason has somewhere lost its essence, with castes that should be actually benefitted not being benefitted, and the others reaping the benefits of the reservation system that are actually not meant for them. The political indulgence in the process of reservation has merely reduced it from a noble idea to a strategy to increase their vote share.
It may be a futile argument for me to argue on the ill-effects of the reservation policy as those benefitting from it would always vehemently argue against me.
Instead of castigating the reservation policy as good or bad, I would rather pitch my voice on the idea and the reason behind its adoption. If that reason is losing its essence, then, of course, the reservation policy has to turn out to be bad.
Let us try to introspect whether the so called claimants of the socially and economically backward classes are actually in practical and real sense socially and economically backward, with just a stamp of being from a backward caste being enough to gain profits in the name of reservations.
How can a reservation policy be good if deserving candidates miss their opportunity because the policy gives preference to undeserving candidates just on the basis of their birth certificates! Isn’t the undeserving reaping the fruits of the labour of the deserving!
Reservation makes sense only if the real backward class who are denied access to education, job opportunities etc. because of their poor financial condition be benefitted. It’s only then that essence of the idea of the adoption of reservation policy would be maintained.
Today, the reservation policy has become a ladder to climb on the stairs of profit, money and other related interests for those who are just roaming with the stamp of being a backward class and are actually socially and economically much more stable than the general class.
Let us understand that when we demand development then simultaneously we cannot demand backwardness. If we would demand more and more backwardness, then we won’t be able to move forward, and when we aren’t able to move forward, our progress would ultimately get stagnant.
It’s time we realise that when more people aspire for backwardness instead of forwardness, the Country itself stagnates.
On this Independence celebration of our Country, let us all demand freedom from this reservation.
“The urge to be one among the backward will gradually lead towards the stagnation in the development of the country”
Brilliant blog….
I think in current day and age and specially given the economic progress that India has made recently there is no need for reservation. It was an essential tool to bring minorities to forefront after independence but not anymore.
Reservations should be removed. India is progressing, I believe so. Wished to express my personal opinion.
I think the reservation process was required earlier to uplift the backward class but now a days its not required. It should be removed as we as general cast have much more unemployed . We should concentrate on a better educated and skilled Nation
Very important topic. I wish it is removed.
Recently a medical student did suicide due to torture of casteism from seniors.
So hope, better vanish this resevations.
The reservation system is actually corrupted so I feel it should be removed. Your post is definitely giving a lot of knowledge to people.
Reservation in any sector favours only a handful of people. I am totally against it.
When we are at talking about equality then I don’t see the need of any reservations. The reservation thing is really creating an imbalance in the country.
I can’t agree more.. reservation system has been so spoiled these days… And it is so disheartening to see an already rich person claiming the prize to a poor hard working bright one. I believe it should be applicable only on the monitary grounds..
I agree with you- merit should be the correct method of admission, but in a country with so much diversity and so many unique issues, I can’t imagine how that would pan out.
I’m waiting for the day where Reservation will be abolished. It would really help improve the disparity in our country
I am strictly against Reservations of any kind. People should be hired on merit alone.
Reservation should be removed.. It’s a very sensitive topic, while General class was to remove it, once are in favor of this