Introduction:
In Historical Background of India we have seen that the society was divided into classes viz. Upper, Middle & Lower. The Upper class always ruled the middle and lower class and hence they were called the exploiters of lower class. The lower class were also treated as untouchables. To overcome this inequality and injustice with the backward and undeveloped class, The ‘Reservation System’ was introduced to uplift those people of classes who were deprived of their social status in the society by providing them with
good education, employment and other necessary facilities.
Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj of princely state Kolhapur is known as the father of Reservation in India. He introduced reservation in 1902. He provided free education to everyone and opened several hostels to make it easier for them to receive it. He also tried to ensure that people thus educated were suitably employed, and he appealed both for a class-free India and the abolition of untouchability. After Independence in India, there were some major initiatives in favor of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SCs and STs) and after the 1980s in favor of OBCs (Other Backward Castes) and in 2019 for poor in the general category. A common form of caste discrimination in India was the practice of untouchability. SCs were the primary targets of the practice, which was outlawed by the new Constitution of India.
The Aim of Reservation System and its distribution:
In simple terms, reservation in India is all about reserving access to seats in government jobs, educational institutions, and even legislatures to certain sections of the population.
Reservations in India were introduced:
- To rectify the past and historical injustice against the backward classes in India.
- To ensure that equal representation can be seen from people belonging to all castes in the services under the state and center.
- To provide an equal platform for everyone irrespective of their caste.
The distribution of Reservation quota in India for applicants for education and jobs is –
Scheduled Caste – 15% Scheduled Tribe – 7.5% OBC – 27% EWS – 10%
How Reservation has become a hurdle in Individuals Development & How it Aids to Inequality…..!!
Reservation in quota of education institutes was provided to such underprivileged classes so that they can educate themselves and in future to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with other superior people. Because of which a candidate of backward class was able to secure admission in institutes with minimum academic score, while a Nonreserved candidate need to have a very high academic score to secure admission in the same institute which creates a feeling of inequality with the deserving and hardworking candidates. This reservation system helped to uplift the backward classes till the end of 20th century to a very great extent (post 50yrs of Independence), but from the beginning of 21st century to till now the reservation system is being used wrongly. In the present scenario, an applicant of backward class has in his mind that even my academic grades are lower he/she will get admission in a reputed institute while that’s totally opposite with the nonreserved applicants. And even if a non-reserved applicant is economically poor, but he is very hardworking student but still fails to get admission, which is an inequality.
Recently, Supreme Court of India had passed a judgement on 6 th Feb 2024 stating that “those among the backward castes who were entitled to reservation and had benefited from it should now move out of the reserved category and make way for the more backward among them to avail the benefit of the affirmative action” For Example – A backward class family who suffered injustice and was deprived of their basic fundamentals rights such as education and other facilities, later on who got those rights from constitution and were benefitted from same and now possess good social & economic status shall move out of the reservation quota for themselves as well for their next generation so that the others who have not yet benefitted shall get a chance.
But we see that, a reserved candidate though he is economically stable and can secure admissions with the help of good grades and hard work, still opts for the reservation quota.
The statement – “Reservation is an hurdle in Individuals Development” is very true because a reserved candidate who has a mindset that lower grades and academic growth can still help him/her secure education and employment never tries to do hard work and learn more. His personal development remains limited to an extent. While a non-reserved candidate keeps on doing hard work for learning extensively and beyond the limits leading him/her to a better social and personal growth and helps in being a better human being.
Is Demand for more Reservation beneficial..?
Specifically in Maharashtra we are seeing that from past few years protest are being carried out by some caste to seek reservation. But one thing people are not understanding that the percentage of jobs as compared to the population is very low, so even if people get reservation, it is of no use. If there are no employment vacancy then how’ll they get job. With the modernization and globalization many of the PSU have already being privatized which reduced the government employment in the country. The monsoon session of Rajya Sabha & Lok Sabha in 2023 stated that there are only 40 lac sanctioned government jobs which is merely around 20% of eligible population. India is a developing nation and it needs hardworking and self-reliant intelligent individuals which help in innovation and improving the social & economic structure.
Conclusion:
The citizens of India seeks rulers who are well educated and non-corrupt. In order to provide equality and a better way for an individual’s development, the reservation system must be completely eradicated. Only the deserving and hardworking candidates shall receive the admissions as well as jobs on basis of their skills & academic progress which will help in nation’s development.
