• UGI USER
  • Dec 15, 2023
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  • 1 Comments

RESERVATION: A VITAL TOOL FOR EQUALITY AND RESPECT

Focus:

Tavleen Singh’s article advocates ending all reservations.

Singh’s characterization of the ensuing discussion as “controversy” oversimplifies the discourse.

Constitutional status of reservation:

  • Article 15(4) – 1st Amendment, 1951 – Special provision for the Advancement of Backward Classes.
  • Article 15(5) – 93rd Amendment, 2006 – Provision for Reservation for Backward, SC, and ST classes in private educational institutions.

Crude Reductiveness :

  • The journey for most from reserved categories involves breaking through generations of trauma and institutional handicaps.
  • Dismissing affirmative action discourse as controversy belittles the struggles made possible by reservations.

Essential Role of Reservations

  • Reservations, as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution, acknowledge and address chronic societal disadvantages.
  • They are not “freebies” but a means to create inclusive institutional spaces.

Perceived Criticisms

  • Some criticize reservations for perpetuating mediocrity, viewing caste as a conduit for affirmative action.
  • The article challenges this perspective, emphasizing the deep social and cultural context that reservations address.

Reality for Marginalized Individuals

  • For marginalized individuals, reservations serve as a means to overcome systemic barriers and pursue an uphill journey in society.
  • Reservation is seen as a tool for affirmative action, necessary as long as inequality is experienced by a particular section of society.
  • Cast-consciousness becomes evident in situations like admissions and job recruitments, perpetuating societal inequalities.

Ending Reservations: Conditions to Consider

  • Before arguing for an end to reservations, it’s essential to ponder how often marginalized communities are discussed in everyday conversations.
  • Reservation can only end when the dignity and respect of every marginalized person are maintained, ensuring a cohesive society.

Examining Merit and Capital

  • Considering the 2% difference in cut-off for SRCC admissions, the article questions whether this compares to centuries of oppression.
  • Definitions of meritocracy and mediocrity need to include social, cultural, and gendered capital as well.

Caste in Everyday Life

  • Caste dynamics are deeply embedded in our lives, impacting ragpickers, sanitation workers, and even the judiciary.
  • Reservation is a defense for marginalized sections in a society where caste still plays a significant role.

Reform and Engagement

  • While considering reforms for reservations, engagement with inequality and discrimination is crucial.
  • Reservations should continue as long as discrimination persists, ensuring respect beyond financial or political equality.