My
seventeen year old boy is full of dreams these days- Stepping into
senior school is also about looking beyond school- What Next? But even
before he can find his answers to this, he is groping with another
question that may outpace the former- How Next?
For, reservations and quotas will not stop at colleges and jobs; the government now plans to use this vote-bank tool for promoting government employees as well. So next time, the government needs to appoint a cabinet secretary or a PSU chairman, it may need to first check the candidate’s caste.
The government has introduced a constitutional amendment bill in Parliament today by voice vote to extend reservations for the backward class when it comes to promotions in government jobs.
Of a total workforce of 40 million in the organized sector in India, almost 15 million – about 35% would belong to government jobs, excluding the armed forced. One is not sure, if the argument for class-based promotions would not be extended to our armed forces as well where colonels may have to be made generals because the officer belonged to a backward class.
For, reservations and quotas will not stop at colleges and jobs; the government now plans to use this vote-bank tool for promoting government employees as well. So next time, the government needs to appoint a cabinet secretary or a PSU chairman, it may need to first check the candidate’s caste.
The government has introduced a constitutional amendment bill in Parliament today by voice vote to extend reservations for the backward class when it comes to promotions in government jobs.
Of a total workforce of 40 million in the organized sector in India, almost 15 million – about 35% would belong to government jobs, excluding the armed forced. One is not sure, if the argument for class-based promotions would not be extended to our armed forces as well where colonels may have to be made generals because the officer belonged to a backward class.
“Isn’t
the caste system a social evil?” my young boy asks as I remind him of
the fundamentals of equity in democracy. But then, how do you explain
this very social evil continues to flourish not just to bring in social
justice but also kill merit.
Reservations and affirmative actions are a must for inclusive social justice and economic growth. That there has been gross injustice towards some sections of the society for years together is undeniable.
Thus, reservations in primary and higher education level; including jobs during recruitment is welcome although, it helps keep the caste system in the society alive. But reservations for promotions stretch the argument a bit too far.
Not enough, that you have to compete against all odds (read illegal corrupt) means to get a rightful place in a college what with quotas taking up almost 40% of college seats, you now have to fight the quota system in jobs as well for merit plays a diminishing role.
The Congress has used this bill as a political masterstroke to woo the vote bank before the upcoming state elections and to keep friend in foe Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party happy.
With the Samajvadi party led by Mulayam Singh, unwilling to back the government blindly, the Congress needs every new member to back it for the rest of the term.
But playing the caste card for vote bank politics will certainly boomerang. The youth considered being a dividend for India may turn out to be a bane as frustrated young men and women fight for their place in the society.
The government would do well now to extend the quota system through the entire value chain from birth to death.
Reservations and affirmative actions are a must for inclusive social justice and economic growth. That there has been gross injustice towards some sections of the society for years together is undeniable.
Thus, reservations in primary and higher education level; including jobs during recruitment is welcome although, it helps keep the caste system in the society alive. But reservations for promotions stretch the argument a bit too far.
Not enough, that you have to compete against all odds (read illegal corrupt) means to get a rightful place in a college what with quotas taking up almost 40% of college seats, you now have to fight the quota system in jobs as well for merit plays a diminishing role.
The Congress has used this bill as a political masterstroke to woo the vote bank before the upcoming state elections and to keep friend in foe Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party happy.
With the Samajvadi party led by Mulayam Singh, unwilling to back the government blindly, the Congress needs every new member to back it for the rest of the term.
But playing the caste card for vote bank politics will certainly boomerang. The youth considered being a dividend for India may turn out to be a bane as frustrated young men and women fight for their place in the society.
The government would do well now to extend the quota system through the entire value chain from birth to death.
( By Soma Banerjee
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