Farcical reservations- Sense or Nonsense?

NOTE: This post isn't against reservation per se but for meaningful reservations.

There seems to be an unwanted urgency on the Government’s part to implement the reservation for OBCs in central institutions, which can’t be understood by a fairly large section of society. This undemocratic imposition of quotas, unprecedented in any nation definitely doesn’t augur well for a nation like India least of all while trying to compete with countries like China. India, which is already bogged down with more than its fair share of problems like red tape, poor infrastructure, poor labour policies etc., certainly doesn’t need more. One thing about quotas apart from the fact that they butcher merit is that the majority section (the reserved) of society is being misled and pitted against the minority section (the unreserved).
After Hindu-Muslim politics wee seeing a dangerous trend with caste and quota politics ruling the roost. One thing if nothing else the quota controversy has thrown light on is the great divide which exists in our society, being pulled further apart by crooked politicians, the selfishness with which each of these sections of society “blow the trumpet” for themselves.
The very clever government of ours is trying to downplay all this by saying it would increase seats in the central institutions with a status quo in the seats meant for the General category. This is pure nonsense and defies human logic.·
Did you know that in the IITs, IIMs and other central institutions there already exists around 25% reservation for the SC/ST and the physically handicapped. Add to all this 27% for the OBCs. For the number of seats to remain unchanged there should be an increase by atleast 50%! This outrageous increase in seats is something which no decent central institution would be willing to do if it also cares about the quality of education remaining undiluted, leave alone the even more outrageous cost of around Rs. 8000 crores to the state exchequer.
· Group ‘A’ officers (includes IAS officers too) in the Central Government and most state governments get reservations even in their promotions! This defies human logic because the person concerned is already in a very good position (mainly through quotas) on top of which is the promotion reservation. Quota upon quota!!!
· In the state of Tamil Nadu where the reservation is an obnoxious 69%, the ‘backward classes’ with regard to the medical admissions also corner around 80% of the seats in the 31% general category, which totally puts the reserved candidates in control of almost 94% of the total medical seats in the state. Do such socially, financially deserve reservations?
Robbing Peter to pay Paul is what exactly portrays the quota system prevalent in India. It is heartburning for the General category candidates when someone totally undeserving gets a special privilege and snatches away a seat rightfully due to the meritorious.The big question however is who decides which caste belongs to which category. Looking around us we find wealthy communities among the reserved categories particularly among the OBCs. The ‘Meena’ community of Rajasthan is a glaring example. It is classified as a Scheduled Tribe, due to which it corners an unfairly large chunk of the seats reserved for the STs in various central government exams including the Civil Services exam.
The removal of communities from the reserved list is not done with as much enthusiasm as that shown in the addition.It is a sorry state of affairs in India, with politicians doing very little for the truly disadvantaged but instead pampering the large, powerful sections of the reserved communities in a shameless bid to appease them.
The main beneficiaries among the OBCs have also been the large, united, politically influential communities like the Yadavs, Jats, Kurmis etc. and not many of the artisan and other professional castes like the barbers, washermen etc.
Reservation can’t be removed from those who have availed it but it can definitely be ensured that this blunder doesn’t happen again with the people’s will. A major relook and regrouping of the castes, thereby giving a major overhaul is the need of the hour. The skewed benefit of reservation has to go immediately. ‘Creamy layers’ must be set in place with annual income levels being set at around Rs. 120,000 (Rs. 10,000 p.m). Let us also remember that the government is under no obligation to make its citizens millionaires. A check on the ‘caste certificate’ trade is also very essential. Serious meaningful time limits have to be set and a bar on those who have already availed reservation either for study or work. Look at the practical realities of India (urban and rural) to find a way to uplift communities like the Muslims (worse off than even the SCs in most of India).
All said and done the ONUS is on the PEOPLE to see to it that people-sensitive governments are voted to power, particularly those not having people like Mr. Arjun Singh, waiting for the opportune time to wreak havoc, which a country like ours can ill afford