Reservationistic politics

Though munificently targeted for uplifting the impoverished, the Reservation system seems to be, in its current form, catering to the privileged few in these reserved categories. Not a stunning revelation though! What should have ironed out the imbalances in the social and economic structure is predominantly reinforcing the divide between the various classes of society. No wonder even the messiah of the poor and down-trodden, Dr. Ambedkar, had refused to be part of any reservationist movement, let alone champion for such discriminatory methods.

The philosophy of fairness, today, does not seem to be having many takers with the arrival of caste politics. With no clear majority to take an audacious decision, the reformist PM also can’t but give in to the demands of these petty identity and caste politics. Even the smallest of the parties seem to be able to hold the House on ransom due to the innate fickleness of the coalition. Given this scenario, it is no surprise that the PM had to exercise elaborate caution in the way he expressed his support for the OBC reservation through affirmative action which he was, probably, trying to shrewdly drag his feet on the issue.

The various government survey agencies have been projecting the OBC figures in the Indian population ranging from 23% to 52%. With such varying figures, the ensuing question is, on which one of these surveys have the government based its decision to mandate an increase in OBC reservation? Even if we were to take the higher percentage, how do we ensure that it is indeed the deserved students who avails the reservation? How does one justify the inheritance of reservation beyond first generation? Why penalize the low income merit students just because they happened to be born to an upper-caste family?

So many queries and concerns both factual and moral, yet the HRD minister has managed to enforce his whims on the helpless public with the rare conviction that only a politician possess.

If these steps are indeed taken for uplifting the unprivileged some reformist steps need to taken to completely dismantle the current system and bring in an approach so that the deserving comes within the purview. With more than 80% of current population languishing near or under the poverty line, this concept would not only serve the deserved lot but might also serve the vote bank politics as well.

This simple policy could be enhanced further with “affirmative action” which could be through scholarships say till, graduation, ensuring thereby the bar for the entrance exams is not lowered.

At anytime, it is wise to teach the starved to fish rather than feed them daily. Undoubtedly more challenging but would definitely work in the long run.