RESERVATION

BY- ISHMEET KAUR MAC

WHAT IS RESERVATION?

In India reservation is a kind of system that basically means reserving seats in educational organizations, government jobs even in legislatures for particular sections in Society. It’s also referred to as affirmative actions. It is a government policy promoted by the Indian Constitution. It is provided to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes. Reservation policy was adopted to promote the rise of backward castes as they were subjected to discrimination and to join them with the mainstream.

HISTORY OF RESERVATION IN INDIA

Reservation in India began more than a century ago, that is in the 19th century. In 1902, Shahu ,Maharaja of Kolhapur(a princely state) introduced reservation for non brahmins and other backward classes to promote education. In 1921 Mysore began reservation for backward classes and in 1932, communal award by the British government granted separate electorates for different communities and later after the Poona pact it was decided that reserved seats will be there for depressed castes. In 1942 viceroy executive council suggested 8.5 percent for scheduled castes in civil services. In 1947, when India got freedom from british dominion there were so many minorities and other classes that to provide education and bring equality in 1950, affirmative action program was launched and because of this reservation in terms of education , public healthcare and electorates and that’s why 84 seats are reserved for scheduled castes and 47 for scheduled tribes. was provided for scheduled castes , scheduled tribes and it was said that this reservation would end in the 1960s. In 1951, an amendment was made that legalized caste based reservation despite a court ruling against quota. In 1990, seeing the Mandal commission report 27 percent of reservation was provided to other backward classes and this was implemented by prime minister Viswanath Pratap Singh. Also, states have the authority to increase reservation for other minorities.

In 1992, the Supreme Court ordered a 50 percent limit on caste based reservation. Also, Narashima Rao government 10 percent jobs for the poor amid upper caste. In 2019, article 15 was amended which provided a 10 percent quota(limit on the number of people) for the poor in higher education and jobs; this was implemented by prime minister Narendra Modi( he promised to reduce it) . In 2020, reservation was just till 1960 but it extended every 10 years and as per the latest extension in 2010 it was said to be valid upto 26 January 2020. But still it continues and the only reason is vote bank. Currently the almost 60 percent total share of reservation in India.

PROS AND CONS OF RESERVATION IN INDIA

PROS OF RESERVATION

• Its required in India to improve historical injustice and discrimination faced by backward communities.
• To enhance administration quality. Ex in Indian Railways scheduled castes and scheduled tribes employees are more in numbers and thus it improves the quality and efficiency.
• Also, it minimized the gap between upper and lower caste to an extent.But they are in some way subjected to discrimination.
• It provides equal opportunities to the backward sections and thus it helps in joining them with the mainstream and in reducing discrimination.

CONS OF RESERVATION

• There is no need for reservation as most of the backward classes have been joined with the mainstream and things are comparatively better.
• It brings down economic growth as it reduces the effectiveness of labour.
• It only provides short term solution to historical discrimination.
• It might have led to social dissatisfaction after the Mandal Commision report.
• It is just increased and used as a tool for vote banks.
• Also, there are so many minorities and one after another the communities will start demanding for reservation and it is affecting the general classes.
• The classes that should be benefited are not getting benefit and others are misusing it.
• Anxiousness for reservation resulted in violent protests, deaths and harm to public property. Ex Jats agitation in Haryana(2016).
• General classes have been affected a lot by reservation in accordance to educational sectors and due to reservation the merit students struggle for even one percent and marks and 60 percent are reserved so even this leads to injustice also scheduled castes and tribes have to score very less in accordance to general class and now general are only becoming a minority. Only army reservation does not exist and a student is always justified according to his merit.
• Also, reservation is not a single tool that could uplift the backward communities. It helps in the education sector but other ways should be promoted. Eventually discrimination is still there as the general classes now who are suffering due to reservation.

OPINION

As per my opinion reservation should be abolished as there is no need for reservation as most of the backward classes have been joined with the mainstream and things are comparatively better. Also, because of this scheduled castes students have advantage and they don’t work that hard to achieve their aim, whereas for general classes even one make and one percent matters because 60 percent of seats are reserved and this leads to discrimination. A person should not be given privileges to due birth in a particular caste but should be recognized on his merit basis. But the government won’t take such steps to reduce reservation because of vote banks.