Friends,
In India, if anything triggers real public outbursts and acrimony, it is the
issue of reservation policy in jobs, education and political posts.
Without going into the background of the matter, which we all know to a greater
or lesser extent, I would like to present the current situation about how
reservation policy stands today and how it is being perceived by the different
concerned parties.
If there is a policy based on any kind of discrimination or differentiation
(whether positive or negative) it is bound to result in two obvious groups- one
those who can be called the beneficiaries of this policy and the others who
think they are losing some of their natural rights because of such a policy. And
the reaction of both the groups is bound to be exactly opposite to each-other.
Yet, we will have to understand that a policy-measure is not only to be based
on the perceived gains and losses of the concerned groups but also needs to be
properly evaluated from a supposedly neutral perspective, as much based on
facts,
figures, logic and arguments as possible.
Now those who are getting some kind of reservations in their favour while
fundamentally agreeing to this policy have a general response that though the
society in general has benefitted out of this, yet they hugely lament the fact
that the different governments and their agencies are not sincere in
implementing these reservation polices in letter and spirit. They have their
own figures and information about the extent to which reservation policies are
being put into practice in different government departments, educational
institutions and so on. And many a times these information go on top confirm
their statement and claim that so many of the government agencies are openly
violating
the laws provided by the Indian constitution itself. They find it a very
serious lapse, being highly unconstitutional and discriminatory. These people
feel that the vested interests among the non-reserved categories being in
superior positions in most of the organizations and Institutions deliberately
and intentionally indulge in acts which go on to adversely affect the interests
of these people as granted through so many Acts, rules, provisions and even
Judicial decisions.
Coming to the other group, they have their own set of issues. The very first is
that they find it atrocious and completely erroneous for them to be deprived of
certain privileges just because they are born in different Castes. To them
reservation of seats, right from the Academic Institutions to the government
and government related jobs to the reservations made for seats to Parliaments
and State Assemblies are nothing but an unfair practice. They go to the extent
of calling it being against their natural rights. They call it being against
merit and being detrimental to the country’s progress.
The more radical among these people are totally opposed to reservation of any
kind, at all possible levels. Slightly less conservative people would agree to
providing
these so-called reserved categories with suitable financial and other relevant
supports so that they do not feel handicapped vis-a-vis the non-reserved
categories but feel that the discrimination shall end here. Another lot agrees
to reservation up to educational institutions but not later. Some are more
lenient and would even accept reservation up to entry in jobs but find it
completely unpalatable if it is done even in promotions.
Thus we have strong reactions and views on both the sides, this being a matter
related with general public in a most direct manner.
Which have these two are stating the truth is a subject matter of great
discussion and controversy. But then, in a democracy we can’t shy away from an
issue just because it is controversial and has the capabilities of generating
great heat and dust. This matter has huge simmering potentials on both sides of
the fence and is a major negative factor in way to complete Nation building.
Dr Nutan Thakur,
Editor,
People’s Forum,
Lucknow
# 94155-34525
