Reservation in Higher Education and Jobs- Divide and Rule Strategy

Introduction:work is at least 25% above the state average.
"Reservation in Higher Education and Jobs in PrivateEducational
Sector"...Yes or No? There has been lot of debate onCastes/classes where the number of children in the
this subject across the country. People areage group of 5 to 15 years who never attended
agitating...people are on hunger strike; Students haveschool is at least 25% above the state average.
different views...professionals have different views.Castes/classes where the rate of student drop-out in
As per the interview with Cabinet Minister, (Humanthe age group of 5-15 years is at least 25% above
Resourse Development) Mr. Arjun Singh...on CNN-IBN,the state average.
he is not willing to accept any facts and fingers. InCastes/classes amongst whom the proportion of
short, after the interview he looks like a confusedmatriculates is at least 25% below the state average
person...might be an effect of his age. Lets startEconomic
from the very beginning, on the 27th of June 1961Castes/classes where the average value of family
Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru (First Prime Minister of India)assets is at least 25% below the state average.
wrote to the Chief Ministers: I dislike any kind ofCastes/classes where the number of families living in
reservations. If we go in for any kind of reservationskachcha houses is at least 25 % above the state
on communal and caste basis, we will swamp theaverage.
bright and able people and remain second rate orCastes/classes where the source of drinking water is
third rate. The moment we encourage the secondbeyond half a kilometer for more than 50% of the
rate, we are lost. And then he adds pointedly: Thishouseholds.
way lies not only folly, but also disaster.Castes/classes where the number of the house-holds
Lets have a look at some other figures..."Learninghaving taken a consumption loan is at least 25%
from Past Experiences"...above the state average.
NSSO, which is a government appointed body, hasWe have seen even during those years that
actually in its research in 1999 - which is the most"Reservation" is just not acceptable. Even if after
latest research shown - that 23.5 per cent of allClose to 60 yrs of Independence (we will be
university seats are already with the OBCs. And thatcelebrating our Diamond jubilee year of Independence
is just 8.5 per cent less than what the NSSO believesbetween 15th August 2006-15th August 2007), we
is the OBC share of the population. So, for aare saying that we have not done anything to bring
difference of 8 per cent, would reservations be theup the social status of people then we are just
right way of making up the difference? A studynullifying all the achievements. Had this been done 5
done by the IITs themselves shows that 50 peryrs or 10 yrs after the independence...it would have
cent of the IIT seats for the SCs and STs remainbeen acceptable but not after 55 yrs of
vacant and for the remaining 50 per cent, 25 perindependence.
cent are the candidates, who even after six yearsConclusion
fail to get their degrees. So, clearly, in their case,Need is to improve the standard of education at
reservations are not working. Parliamentary"Primary Level", make people competent enough to
Committee on the welfare for the Scheduled Castesfight in "Open Competition" and not to reserve the
and Scheduled Tribes says that "looking at the Delhiseats or provide any type of quota. The vociferous
University, between 1995 and 2000, just half theprotest against reservation for Other Backward
seats for under-graduates at the Scheduled CastesClasses (OBCs) and the growing unease about
level and just one-third of the seats forreservations for scheduled castes and scheduled
under-graduates at the Scheduled Tribes level weretribes reflects the sharp conflicts which are erupting
filled. All the others went empty, unfilled."in Indian society over the distribution of a limited
Sukhdev Thorat, the Chairman of the UGC. He pointsnumber of Government jobs and educational
out that today, at higher education levels - that is allresources. It should be noted that the vocal
universities, IITs and IIMs - there is already a 1.2 lakhopposition to the reservations for OBCs goes hand in
vacancy number. 40 per cent of these are inhand with a more disguised resentment against
teaching staff, which the IIT faculty themselvesreservation for the scheduled castes and tribes. One
point out that they have shortages of up to 30 perhas only to recall to the Gujarat anti-reservation
cent.movement of 1981 and the recent December, 1989
Fifty years after the reservations were made,U.P. agitation against the Parliament extending the
statistics show, according to The Hindustan Times,reservation of seats in legislatures for the scheduled
that overall in India, only 16 per cent of the places incastes and scheduled tribes for another ten years.
higher education are occupied by SCs and STs. TheThe movement against reservations in the present
quota is 22.5 per cent, which means that onlyIndian context is definitely retrograde and objectively
two-thirds of the quota is occupied. One third is goingserves the interests of those who seek to preserve
waste, it is being denied to other people.the dominance of the upper castes. The plea against
In short, reservations mean that a lesser-qualifiedreservations is advanced on the basis of equality of
candidate gets preference over a more qualifiedopportunity and merit. In an unequal society like India,
candidate, solely because in this case, he or shewhere scheduled castes, tribes and shudras (the bulk
happens to be an OBC. In other words, the upperof whom are the OBCs) have been discriminated
castes are being penalized for being upper caste.against in choice of occupation, social mobility and
Why Quota? Why Reservations? Will this helpcontrol over the means of production, all talk of
"underprivileged" communities to come at par withequality, without taking into account this reality,
others? I don't think so. If the foundation is notreduces equality to the concept of formal equality.
strong...one cannot make strong building on it. If youAs for merit, it is perfectly possible in India to
really want to bring everyone on samediscriminate in recruitment and promotions, on the
platform...strengthen the Primary Education; Improvebasis of caste prejudices or preferences, militating
the course material; provide teachers at that levelagainst merit. Further, merit, as the Mandal
and make people strong enough to compete withCommission and a host of other commissions and
each other...provide the platform for institutes andSupreme Court judgments have pointed out, must
corporates to choose the best.be seen in the context of achieving real equality of
Mandal Commission...A regretful step...First Major Stepopportunities, social environment and compensatory
towards reservation and quota system...beginning ofdiscrimination to ensure social justice.
caste based politics...I sum up my feeling through the lines of following
1) The Mandal Commission was officially called Secondpoem by Martin Niemöller (1892-1984) about
backward Classes Commission.accumulation of State power by the targeting of
2) It derives its name from parliamentarian BP Mandal,specific groups one at a time captures the slippery
who chaired the Commission.slope of the law very well:
3) The Mandal Commission was constituted by theFirst they came for the Communists, and I did not
Morarji Desai government in 1978 to consider actionspeak out because I was not a Communist.
politics for backward classes, aimed at redressingThen they came for the Socialists, and I did not
caste discrimination.speak out because I was not a Socialist.
4) The Commission Report was submitted in DecThen they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did
1980. It sought reservation for 27 per cent of allnot speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist.
services and public sector undertakings under theThen they came for the Jews, and I did not speak
central government and 27 per cent of all admissionsout because I was not a Jew.
to institutions of higher education for OtherThen they came for me, and there was no one left
Backward Classes (OBCs).to speak out for me.
5) The percentage was over and above the existingBefore I conclude, here are views of Mr. Sam Pitroda
22.5 per cent reservation for SCs/STs.(Chairman, National Knowledge Commission), on
6) In Aug 1990, the then Prime Minister VP Singhreservation in Higher Education and Jobs:
assured its implementation in government jobs.There is nothing fundamentally wrong with the quota
7) It led to widespread protests, which finally led tosystem as long as it is applied judiciously and at the
his resignation.right levels. It cannot become a blanket solution for all
8) There were many self-immolations attempts,time to come. It is my considered position to reject
including that of Rajeev Goswami, a DU student.labels on the basis of anyone's birth. It is an
9) In 1993, the Supreme Court upheld 27 per centoutdated, antiquated thinking to keep talking about
reservation for OBCs.caste based disadvantages. The first step for me is
10) But it was subject to the exclusion of sociallyto reject all such labels in the 21st century and focus
advanced persons/sections from amongst the OBCs.on equality for youth. In my case, hard work, good
11) Children of Class I officers with income of Re oneeducation and focus on technology helped me a
lakh were also excluded.great deal to overcome any disadvantages that I had
12) The exclusion-income limit was revised to Rs 2.5because of what people still obsessively describe as
lakh in 2004.caste.
13) The reservation came into effect in Sept 1993Technology gave me an equal footing for everything
after the recommendations were accepted.I have done in my life and career. I have said this
14) In Aug 2005, the SC abolished all caste-basedbefore. Technology is a great leveler, second only to
reservations in unaided private colleges.death. I have always negotiated challenges on the
15) On Dec 2005, the Lok Sabha passed the 104thbasis of my whatever little intrinsic merit quality and
Constitution Amendment Act 2005, rolling back theperseverance. I have never taken the route of quota
SC judgement.or reservations. I hope this shows that it is possible.
16) The new clause allowed reservations for SC/STWhat we need is to create opportunities for
and OBCs in private unaided educational institutions.everyone of equal merit to have proper access. On
17) The latest controversy erupted over thethis subject there are many views and many
government's proposal to introduce 27 per centsentiments. At times people look at this in terms of
reservation for OBCs in central government-fundedblack and white while there are many shades of gray.
higher educational institutes like IITs and IIMs.Proper primary education is the key to building a
Earlier Mandal Commission identified 11 indicators forsound foundation for higher education in the
providing reservation and quota is higher education.university. I wish we focus on this first. I also believe
They were:that every child must have opportunity for good
Socialeducation without worrying about caste or income
Castes/classes considered as socially backward bylevels. If the student is qualified we must find funding
others.to support them in colleges. It is time to go beyond
Castes/classes which mainly depend on manual labourlabels that stigmatize an entire group of people. I
for their livelihood.believe now in the early part of the 21st century we
Castes/classes where the percentage of marriedshould make fundamental changes in the way we
women below 17 is 25% above the state average inapproach the concept of education, employment,
rural areas and 10% in urban areas; and that ofequality and empowerment. But the point is it is time
married men is 10% and 5% above the statefor a whole new approach in the 21st century. We
average in rural and urban areas respectively.cannot build the nation in the 21st century with the
Castes/classes where participation of females in19th century mindset.