Is reservation necessary in a country like India?
The topic of reservation frequently takes the spotlight on social media, particularly championed by members of the reserved categories within our society. But have we ever paused to ponder why this system exists in India and whether our country truly needs it? Let's delve into the necessity of reservation in India.
Definition and Purpose:
Reservation is a system designed to provide opportunities in education and employment to marginalized groups within society. Enshrined in Articles 15 and 16 of the Indian Constitution, this mechanism empowers the government to allocate quotas, ensuring equitable treatment for backward classes of citizens. The primary beneficiaries are the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC), including additional groups such as Jains and J&K immigrants.
Originating during British India, the first reservations targeted non-Brahmins and were implemented in 1902. By 1921 Indian Government had an order in respect of the reservation in which SC, ST had 50% reserved seats in education and employment. Reservation percentage was decreased many times from 50 to 20, 20 to 15 and as of now, the reservation has up to 49.5% seats across various fields. Originally envisioned for ten years however till now no politician has come forward to end this system, the reservation system has persisted, with OBC inclusion in 1993 for government jobs and 2006 for education.
Recent Trends and Concerns:
People are trending this because of the revelation of the previously CEO of twitter (Now "X") who's an Indian, i.e., Parag Agarwal. Although, some are trending for the political agendas but some are actually there to tell their miserable experience with the country's reservation system. The main disadvantage of the Reservation is deserving students don't make it to the college admission lists or jobs. A Good example of this can be seen on Twitter every time a college admission list comes or the result of a state exam arrives.
My personal experience of witnessing a notable difference in cut-off percentages for B.Com Honors between general and SC categories during undergraduate admissions. It was disheartening to witness how a particular percentage opens doors for one group but proves insufficient for another. This means if you are an SC student and has scored 75% in your boards, you're eligible for admission some colleges, but the same 75% marks in General category won't get you anything. I question the necessity of reservation in education, arguing that this sector is responsible for nurturing new minds. Furthermore, the negative impact on self-respect is highlighted, as the intense competition focuses more on backwardness than on academic merit. A reservation in the job is reasonable but that is also not necessary. Moreover, Unreserved students has had been drained because of this system which can be the reason why some Indians are leaving the country. Colleges and educational institutions which once were known for their good students are seen badly because now the fight is only for whose got more relaxation.
The post basically suggests a viable solution to assess the relevance of the reservation system—a caste-based census. The last such census occurred in 1932. A recent plea in the Honorable Supreme Court seeking a caste-based census. Supreme Court asked government's reply seeking enumeration of SC, ST and OBC population in 2021 census to determine their reservation in education and govt jobs. We, as Indians need this to happen because the data in which reservation is fixed is old and outdated. The results shall explain if we need reservation in this system or not.
This post encourages individuals to use their voices to express opinions on the reservation system. The call to action urges citizens to join a movement advocating for change, emphasizing the importance of a caste-based census to provide current and relevant data for evaluating the reservation system's continued necessity. Sharing this perspective is encouraged to spark broader conversations on this critical societal issue.
