CHANCE, NOT CHARITY; EMPOWERMENT, NOT CRUTCHES.

On Reservations for Economically Weaker Sections, and Reservation Policy in general.

Yesterday while I was sipping tea, a Whatsapp notification popped up. A person had uploaded a status. Generally these are ‘Happy B’day wishes’, but for a change the status said “Give them chance, not charity – Baba Amte”. This triggered thoughts about recent 10 % reservations given to the Economically Weak General category candidates.

Baba Amte demanded chance for the Leprosy affected people, neglected by their families. The quote moved me back in time when I visited Somnath and Anandwan for Shram Sanskar Chhawni. There, the leprosy affected and cured people run workshops, dairy, farms, nurseries. The deaf, blind, Leprosy affected people of all ages perform their skills in a program called ‘Swaranandanwan’. But this is not the point. What amused me is that these people are not demanding reservations. They may be fools not to understand the fashion of demanding reservations.

These physically crippled people are today, empowered by themselves. They are truly abled.  Others are moving towards disability one caste at a time.

Various reactions have been seen on this recent Cabinet decision. Most of the political parties have taken a cautious stand. Some said that they did not oppose but also not supported the decision. I wonder their reasons for such a ‘firm’ stand. Some have clearly supported the decision. Some went on to say that reservations should also be introduced in the Army. Some others have criticized the decision to be a political gimmick.

 I thought of the decision as a surprise move, like the surgical strike and  demonetization. Because political parties and analysts seem to be awestricken. This happened because Loksabha and Rajyasabha passed 124^th constitutional amendment within 2 days. It also received the President’s assent. On the other hand, a bill proposing reservation for women in Parliament has not been passed for years by any government.

But the real question is whether the laws help those intended in India. Let us imagine for a moment. We all think and want the government policies and programs to reach the needy. When a social legislation is passed and the government throws figures about people who will benefit (in millions) we make up a picture in mind. In it we see a farmer, debt ridden, having a family of 6, his crops destroyed due to drought, receiving the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in his bank account. We also see a helpless Adivasi family getting a proper share of land in the forest and an equal right over the forest produce.  But reality of all this happening is very grim. I am not being negative but we should face the reality. The benefits go to rich farmers, businesses related to agriculture etc.

In case of reservations, there have been cases where people have changed their castes, received fake caste certificates, fake income proofs, all by offering ‘Lakshmi’ to the concerned authorities.

There are many farmers in deep corners of India who do not know the schemes made for them. Even if they wish, they cannot send their children to educational institutes due to lack of knowledge, caste discrimination etc.

The middle and lower middle class upper castes who fall in the category of ‘Aam Admi’ (in real sense, not the party) who are overjoyed by this decision should ask themselves. Do they really hope that they have the necessary contacts? Because legal documents don’t seem to work here.

But the broader and more important question is that of the continuity of policy of reservations. Speaking legally, the Constitution of India provides for reservations based on social and educational backwardness to certain ‘classes’. But identification of such classes was connected with castes and vote bank politics further added fuel to the fire of caste based reservations. Today we are leading towards compartmentalizing our society. We are building concrete structures which will lead to a new classification. Reservations have helped improving the situation of many. But sustainability of the scheme further into future is seriously questionable. Niether can we discontinue the policy suddenly, nor should we promote it. Here the role of the youth is crucial. We need to discuss the viability of policy, the alternatives comprehensively. We need to build confidence & dialogue between castes. We have to balance the interests of the nation with the interest of its diverse public.

Many experts have suggested some possible solutions like discontinuing reservation of the 4th generation if availed for previous 3 generations, substituting reserved quota by providing incubating environment, universal basic income, increasing seats in academic institutions etc. Diversity of opinions are unavoidable. But there should be consensus on the path to be taken by our country. As hypothised by Samuel Huntington, we are experiencing a period of ‘Clash of Civilizations’. Our response to the situation will decide whether we will become a mature democracy or a divided society.