RESERVATION: NEEDED OR NOT

      Reservation in India is all about reserving access to the seats in government jobs, educational institutions, and even the judiciary. It is also considered as an ‘eligibility criteria'.

        7.5% of total seats are reserved for STs, 15% for the SCs, 27% for the OBCs and 10% for EWS. Making a total of 59.5% seats reserved, only 40.5% seats under merit are left. The main cause for this reservation system is the age-old caste system in India. Initially, this reservation was only for the SCs and STs which would last for 10 years, but it kept exceeding with several changes made in the rules and regulations. In 1991 on the recommendation of the Mandal commission, OBC was also added to it. On 14th January 2019, 10% reservation was also given to the Economically weaker section(EWS).

Now the glaring question arises:

Is reservation still needed under the existing circumstances?

           The reservation in India was meant for SEBCs. However, it became a caste-based reservation instead of being class-based. Except for the EWS reservation, the rest are not needed. They are hindering the growth of our nation. Many of the deserving people are not getting the opportunity while the undeserving candidates are. This also causes a lack of self-confidence in the youth of the general category. This is not good for them. The way reservation is being implemented in India, it seems like it is just for obtaining more votes. Even after 75 years of independence, reservation is still prevailing in India. I agree that the lower castes have faced much criticism in the past. But the way reservation is being implemented nowadays is creating more hatred between the castes, leading to more casteism. Nowadays, if someone says that the lower castes are living in poverty, it's not true because the mentality of the people is changing. Eventually, people will not be discriminated by their caste. Now a limit for the reservation should be set rather than extending it forever.

Is reservation the only way to provide liberty to the backward castes?

           Reservation does a good job of liberating the backward castes. It is slowly demotivating the people of the general category as there is just 40.5 % left for merit, which can include other categories too. This leaves very little opportunity for the people of the general category. It is clear discrimination and some measures for the liberation of everyone could be helpful.

Ø Providing basic living facilities to economically weaker families would be a good option.

Ø Providing them cheap or almost free education so that their talent could be brought into the limelight.

Ø Providing free healthcare to economically weaker sections.

If these measures are taken, the hatred between the castes would be decreased, everyone could get an equal opportunity and we will notice a strong change in the development of the country. These measures would neither give any advantage nor disadvantage to any citizen of our nation.

           To summarise, it’s time to set a limit to the reservation. So that the deserving could get the opportunity. The facilities should be provided to the truly economically weaker people to bring out their talent and give them justice.

 

Akash Pandey

Class IX