Reservations have become a hotcake for all sections of people in the society nowadays. The common man wants it to secure his future and the politicians love to use it as a bait to attract voters for most of the time. If we look back into history, there has always been a divide between the classes of people based on their race or occupations. It was always seen that the upper classes dominate over the lower classes leading to outright exploitation, discrimination and lead them to even more downtrodden conditions of life.
The framers of the constitution kept these aspects in mind and assured the people upliftment in society by providing social equality and economic equity. Article 15 and Article 16 of the Constitution assures that no citizen shall be discriminated based on religions, caste, creed, sex or place of birth and there will be equal opportunity in matters of public employment respectively. When we look at the present scenario, what everyone notices at the first glance is the huge number of reserved seats in matters of education, employment, and various other facilities. Now people start to wonder why it is even required after 75 years of independence. The question about unfair advantage also arises within the minds of the people.
To investigate this matter, first one must understand that these reservations were bought in place for all the citizens of the country. Even to this day there are places in India where the people of backward classes are denied the basic human standards of living. They are made to do meagre and sub humane jobs; their whole families are harassed. This is only a tip of the iceberg that get reported and are picked up as stories by news channels. The real data and statistics are unknowns.
Let us move a step further, there are many students of the tribal and scheduled caste communities who come from an economically weaker section and even from places where they cannot even afford basic education. So, if there are reservations kept for them, then it is truly welcome. This encourages the students of the community to work hard and progress. When a student gets an admission into an educational institution based on reservation, they face ostracization, bullying, ragging and harassment not only from the fellow students but the teachers and staff as well. The Rohit Vemula Incident, Dr. Payal Tadvi Suicide is a clear example of this. Apart from that, in this lockdown there already has been a row when a teacher from one prestigious institutes of the country used caste slur in the lecture.
Now the major problem that has arisen is that the affluent people inside the reserved communities are taking up all the benefits therefore the needy ones are not getting benefitted. In Chebrolu Leela Prasad & Ors. Vs State of A.P & Ors. 2020 SCC OnLine SC 383, Appeal (Civil), 3609 of 2002, the Supreme Court of India believed all the states should revise the reservation lists so that the people who have already become “affluent” by enjoying the benefits for so long be separated from the economically poor sections so they may also take some advantage. The framers of the constitution have explicitly stated that every possible step would be taken to uplift the downtrodden members of the society. Apart from the economic criteria, there were proposals that the reservations should be made time bound. This proposal was rejected by the Court stating that the there will be continuity in the provisions until the social backwardness does not end.
According to the 127th Amendment of the Constitution, it gave the power to the state government to make their own list of socially and educationally backwards classes that can differ from the central list. This must be made by law. The President can notify the socially and economically backward classes for purpose of central government.
These are all the reasons why I think reservations are still necessary in India, because it is difficult to envision that despite the fact that there are such countless reservations, these monstrosities are as yet being submitted then what might be the conditions in its nonattendance. Hence to bring about social justice and empowerment of the real underprivilege these provisions are necessary to be in place.
Aishwarya Says:
I have always been against Glorifying Over Work and therefore, in the year 2021, I have decided to launch this campaign “Balancing Life”and talk about this wrong practice, that we have been following since last few years. I will be talking to and interviewing around 1 lakh people in the coming 2021 and publish their interview regarding their opinion on glamourising Over Work.
If you are interested in participating in the same, do let me know.
Do follow me on Facebook, Twitter Youtube and Instagram.
The copyright of this Article belongs exclusively to Ms. Aishwarya Sandeep. Reproduction of the same, without permission will amount to Copyright Infringement. Appropriate Legal Action under the Indian Laws will be taken.
If you would also like to contribute to my website, then do share your articles or poems at adv.aishwaryasandeep@gmail.com
We also have a Facebook Group Restarter Moms for Mothers or Women who would like to rejoin their careers post a career break or women who are enterpreneurs.
We are also running a series Inspirational Women from January 2021 to March 31,2021, featuring around 1000 stories about Indian Women, who changed the world. #choosetochallenge