About Reservation:
Merriam-Webster defines “reservation”[1] as an arrangement to have something held for one’s use. Its usage is understood in scenarios ranging from something leisurely, like making a hotel reservation, to something intricate, like caste-based reservation in India.
Reservation is also interpreted as a mechanism of protective discrimination to ensure the participation and upbringing of the traditionally neglected sections of society through quota-based affirmative action programs.
Due to a considerably low number of women representatives in the Lok Sabha and other legislative assemblies, The Constitution(One Hundred and Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2008[2], better known as the Women’s Reservation Bill seeks to reserve 33% or one-third of all seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, for women. This was advocated to ensure that women are not denied equal opportunities. This is due to the different challenges they face, such as gender bias, sexual violence, etc.
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill-2016 provides reservations for people with disabilities in education, government jobs, poverty alleviation schemes, etc.[3]
Integrants of caste:
According to theories, the origin of caste, or a “caste system” can be dated back to around 1500 BC.
Substantial evidence of such an institution exists in the form of Manusmriti or Manava Dharmasastra. The varnashrama system divides the Hindu society into four varnas, namely, Brahmanas(Intellectuals), Kshatriyas(Administrators), Vaishyas(Businesspeople), and Shudras(Workers). Anyone who didn’t belong to this caste system was considered an "untouchable" or a Dalit.[4]
This caste system dictated almost every aspect of an individual’s social life. The Dalits were treated in the filthiest possible manner. They were denied equal opportunities and had to endure discrimination in all spheres of life. They were not allowed to touch food and water during gatherings. Many Dalits were not allowed inside ration shops, and the ones who entered were given fewer grains. Dalit children were not allowed inside anganwadis, and the ones who went to school were rigorously discriminated against, some even brutally beaten.
Saharanpur Violence[5] of 2017 is a classic example of caste-based violence, where around 25 Dalit houses were burnt down by the Thakurs. This event happened when the Dalits tried to peacefully protest against the Thakurs celebrating Maharana Pratap’s birth anniversary, while they were denied the chance to erect a statue of Dr B. R. Ambedkar on his birth anniversary.
The Bara Massacre[6] of 1992 saw around 500 armed men of the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) selectively killing at least 40 people of the Bhumihar caste by chopping off their heads. The marauders set multiple houses ablaze and stormed into houses, to dauntingly question people about the whereabouts of the Sawarna Liberation Front (SLF) leader.
Ramifications of India’s caste system:
According to the All-India Religion Census Data – 2011[7], 79.8% of the population identify with Hinduism. Thus, 20.2% of the population identify with religions such as Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, and other religions. The Hindu population is in a clear majority. The caste system mentioned above is a peculiar product of the Hindu Civilization. Being deep-rooted and static, it is an unchangeable system. The number of recognized castes in India has risen from four to numbers greater than three figures.
The prevalence of a caste system has quite a few advantages. The interests of people belonging to a certain community, although limited by their caste, are safeguarded. This acts as a protective mechanism for their wanting members.
The existence of numerous caste communities has helped in retaining and flourishing India’s vivid cultural heritage. It also upholds India’s status as a land evincing “unity in diversity”
The caste system, however, dictated the social status of an individual as soon as he/she was born. Thus, despite the presence of opportunities, this system inherently denied equal ingress to all people that were a part of it.
It also creates a false sense of superiority and inferiority. The Brahmanas are considered to be intellectuals, whereas the Dalits are considered to be untouchables. Thus, the caste system did not define the social status of an individual by the work they do, but by the caste community, they are born into.
The social institution, i.e. caste, while a source of rich culture and heritage, is also considered to be a congruous source of discrimination. This train of thought is the reason behind the existence of caste-based violence. Acts of brutality and a false sense of superiority amongst different caste groups account for unequal access to opportunities, and thus underrepresentation of the minority groups.
Caste-based reservation in India:
Caste-based reservation is practised in India to correct the historical injustices that the traditionally oppressed people have faced. It attempts to do so by offering quotas in all major spheres of life, to ensure that no one is denied an opportunity just because they were born into a particular caste.
The Indian caste-based reservation system includes “affirmative action programs” where seats are reserved for citizenry belonging to
Scheduled Castes( marginalized Hindu sub-communities who have been historically oppressed),
Scheduled Tribes( marginalized sub-communities who have been isolated based on geographical boundaries ),
and Other Backward Classes( marginalized communities that continue to face social and economic isolation but do not fall under the umbrella terms of SC and ST ), in Government jobs, educational institutions, and even legislative institutions.
Article 16(4) [8] in The Constitution of India reads as follows:
“Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any provision for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of any backward class of citizens which, in the opinion of the State, is not adequately represented in the services under the State”
It is thus entrenched that the kernel behind having a reservation system, is the concept of representation. Members of a certain caste community must not be left unrepresented or underrepresented because of the injustice their community has faced and continues to face.
Owing to this system, the levels of education across all social groups have increased in urban India. The education pattern of those belonging to OBC is similar to GC. There is also a sharp increase in the proportion of youngsters who are educated beyond primary school among SC and ST.
The representation of SCs, STs and OBCs in the posts and services under the Central Government in 2016 was 17.49%, 8.47% and 21.57% respectively.[9]
Representation of SC’s in civil services has increased by an average of 7.9% from 1965 to 2008.
Representation of STs in civil services has increased by an average of 4.84% from 1965 to 2008. [10]
The way forward:
The caste system, a haven of cultural richness, instils a false sense of superiority, which is the reason for consequent discrimination and ever-prevalent caste-based violence.
The Indian caste-based reservation system originated around the independence era. As statistics show, situations have considerably improved over the years. While there are many castes in India described by their niches, the dictating power of the caste system has considerably weakened in recent times. An individual doesn’t necessarily have to do what their caste prescribes. A Brahmincan become a businessman. A shudra does not have to be a worker; he/she can join the administrative services based on his/her potential, and the opportunities provided. Social, economic development and the prevalent reservation system have played a magnanimous role in abating the clout of the Indian caste system.
A society consists of people belonging to different walks of life. We speak different languages, have different cultures and heritages, belong to different classes, practise different religions, have different socioeconomic statuses, etc. It is close to impossible to eradicate social institutions like caste, religion, etc. Thus, we can term society to be static. A static society cannot undergo comprehensive social development if the rules that hegemonize it remain stagnant as well.
Caste-based reservation can end the caste cartel that is generally involved while accessing social resources. It, however, is anti-progressive. A stagnant caste-based reservation system can also deepen casteism. It does not always acknowledge inter-caste meritocracy.
Once the underrepresented have been represented and the caste monopoly involved in the public and private sectors has ceased, our focus must shift towards the other issues that make our society stagnant.
A caste-based reservation system cannot eradicate poverty. The lockdown left almost 12 crore people in India jobless in April 2020, according to the CMIE. [11] Special facilities or reservations should be given to the poor, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, etc. to achieve an egalitarian society.
In 2019, the Parliament passed the 124th Constitution Amendment Bill to provide for 10% reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) among the general category candidates in higher education and government employment. [12]
Reservation must be offered to the poor and underprivileged sections of society to ensure that they are adequately represented. Providing them with reservations in all domains of life will place education and hard work in a higher position as compared to other social constructs such as caste, religion, etc.
We must gradually make a transition from a reservation system based on caste to a reservation system purely based on the economy. Fair opportunities must be bestowed upon everyone, irrespective of where they place on the economic ladder.
Article by-
Smriti Shivkumar
Comments