“Fairness does not mean everyone gets the same. Fairness means everyone gets what they need.”
– Rick Riordan
In my opinion, this underlying claim has basis when assigning the limits between reservation and merit. In a country densely populated with inequality in economic parameters, the scope for equity and equality gets more pronounced.
Reservations, as we know it, can be traced to the times of our colonial masters, with the Morely Minto reforms (1909) introducing separate electorates, to include reservations on religious lines.
This was further enhanced with the Poona Pact (1932) between MK Gandhi and BR Ambedkar to give primacy to “depressed” class Hindus (Dalits) over caste Hindus (Savarnas).
Although, it is to be noted that Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur, was the first one to introduce caste-based reservations (1902). Inspired by Jyotiba Phule, he ensured that all the disadvantaged castes had their fair share of representation in educational institutions and jobs.
However, today, I believe that reservations have been used by politicians to enhance their own scope and clout. Therefore, the ignominious design related to reservations is for all to see.
Reservation refers to granting of seats in public offices, government jobs and educational institutes to certain marginalised sections of the society.
Reservations in India have been backed by the constitution. Its purpose is mainly to:
- Advancements of sections such as the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes (SC-ST), who are considered to be historically backward. They need social mobility for their growth and well-being, mostly in the form of vertical inclusion.
- Adequate representation to other sections like the other backward classes (OBCs) and women, usually in the form of lateral inclusion.
Reservation is constitutionally mandated in Articles 15, 16, 29 and 334, and their subsequent amendments, of the Indian constitution. It was capped at 49.5%. However, the inclusion of the EWS quota as per the 103rd constitutional amendment increased this limit by 10%—to 59.5%.
So, now, nearly 60% seats are reserved, whereas 40% is for people from the general category. What needs to be looked at is if the social benefits derived from it is actually reaching the needy.
Initially intended for the ST-SC communities… that too, only for 10 years (1951-1961), it was extended to include the OBCs as per the Mandal Commission’s report. Now, after 70 plus years of independence, the demand for reservations is only rising in India.
This brings us to dwell on whether reservation has actually helped in bringing about true, social mobility and upliftment, to those in need.
Reservations have been used by politicians for consolidating vote banks. And, it can bee seen via how it has been altered from a caste-based policy to a class-based one, despite the Indira Sawhney judgement. Also, the Supreme Court has categorically stated that reservation is not a poverty alleviation scheme.
There is, therefore, a need to overhaul the ideas centered around this—which needs political will. Although, there is a need to ensure that all castes are adequately represented, I think that it should not be done by denying meritorious candidates their right to equity.
Our society has stood on the basis of distributive justice since time immemorial.