Against Caste based Reservation

Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister
REPUBLIC OF INDIA

Mr. Prime Minister,
This is in reference to the reservation policy of your government based on the infamous Mandal commission that the HRD ministry is planning on implementing. Even when the Kalekar report was tabled before the Parliament in 1956, the then Congress government then led by Shri. Jawaharlal Nehru held the official position that
- "Caste was the greatest hindrance in the way of our progress toward an egalitarian society" and
- Warned that the "recognition of specified castes as backward may serve to maintain and perpetuate the existing distinctions on the basis of caste".

In the current era of globalization and at a time when India is grabbing attention internationally for her various exploits, the above reservation policy based on caste as the criteria does not alleviate our internal problems and does not bode well for the future of our country.

The years under reservation have seen the better off among the OBCs, who already had access to good educational facilities and could outperform their lesser-privileged peers at competitive examinations, as the main beneficiaries of the reservation system. Now even after the years of reservation, the need to have more reservation for the OBC candidates to enter educational institutions highlight the fact that the system based on this flawed concept has not functioned as visualized. The fact is that instead of a positive impact on the society, the reservation policy has fostered a culture where in caste and caste based reservation has become an electoral issue to be misused.

In an article1 titled What the Mandal Commission wanted by Mr.S.S.Gill ([email protected]) Secretary, Mandal Commission, noted that the commission was fully aware that reservations were only a palliative, and was only one of several recommendations suggested for the upliftment of the underprivileged. His concern is that The short-term, myopic approach to social engineering has posed serious problems to the beneficiaries of reservations.

The petitioners undersigned do not oppose the upliftment of the underprivileged but do so by enabling them to compete with the existing non-reserved category on an equal footing by providing additional resources as suggested by the commission. Also, the number of premier institutions imparting quality education may be increased, additional help like coaching facilities, vocational training, etc. may be provided to those that need it. Economic helps such as providing scholarships and sponsorships to the meritorious and the deserved to pursue their higher studies is another approach that can be followed.

Sir, as concerned Indian citizens we the undersigned implore you to address the real issue afflicting the underprivileged rather then employ cheap and deplorable antics such as reservation based on caste for personal benefits. This selective and seemingly populist approach introduces an element of inequality among all sections of the society including the OBCs themselves. In an already competitive environment the policy of cast based reservation in long run will lead to disastrous results. It is hoped that sensibility prevails in all facets of the decision making and to quote the Knowledge Commission This is an historic opportunity to craft more effective policies to make education institutions more inclusive.

References
[1] http://www.indianexpress.com/story/2343.html