RSS FeedsThe quota system is a perpetuation of an old evil
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25 Apr
2007 |
People who support quotas for the OBCs and the backward classes do nothing but perpetuate the old, sick mentality of “superior than thou”. It’s like, first our ancestors oppressed your ancestors, and now we are going to be benevolent to you. So we are either the oppressors or the providers. We are never on equal terms.
A just society needs justice, not charity. No matter how much people claim that it’s their right, we all know it’s not their right, it’s either politics or ideological obfuscation. When you give people benefits according to their caste you take away their dignity and their spirit to fight. You give winds to opportunism and crush the real striving before it can even blossom. The quotas are a sure-shot way of keeping a big part of the society either backward, or monumentally corrupt. I’ve heard children not studying properly because they know they’ll get admission through the quota system. People fear going to schedule-caste doctors because they might have achieved their education without even qualifying for it (I personally disagree with this as the rich pay their way into various medical colleges too). It’s utterly unfair.
I know this sounds overly cliched in this cynical world; instead of quotas, we desperately need social justice and social security. We need equal rights for all the sections of the society. We need a sense of fairness. Education should be accessible to all by default, not through quotas. In fact, if there is so much quota going on, there should be quota at the schooling level because it is there where a foundation is built, and it is there where so much discrimination takes place.
Oppressions have been committed by many sections of our society, by many religions, but it doesn’t mean we keep exhuming the rotten corpses for political gains. One of the worst human atrocities were committed by the Muslim invaders, but it doesn’t mean we hold the current Muslims responsible for that. The second wrong doesn’t often compensate the first wrong.
Email this link | Posted by Amrit | Tags: Politics, Society
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April 25th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Equality, justice, opportunities for all. These words were suppose to be the basic pillars on which the foundation of our independent India was suppose to be laid. But, isn’t it most unfortunate that even 60 after our independence, none of these objectives have been achieved so far.
One may either blame our politicians and other administrators for this whole situation or do something to make a difference. And, to make that difference one needs plans and policies. The quota system is one such policy. It aims at encourging the socially marginalized to come out of the stereotype and get educated, become an integral part of the society and contribute in its development. The who quota system is suppose to change the mindset of the socially backward people. A mindset that has been formed over centuries. A mindset which tells them that despite having the capabilities, you are qualified to do only certain kind of work. And come what may, you will be forced to do that work. If the so-called upper class has to sacrifice something to achieve this change, let’s do it.
Please understand, a backward class child has nothing to offer to his parents and family, than reservation so that they allow him to get educated. And this is not only true about schedule caste and tribes. Take the case of persons with disabilities. Many severely disabled despite being capable haven’t had the kind of opportunities that they should have had which has made them question the whole logic of putting in so much effort in studies when it didn’t make them secure the kind of opportunities they should have had. Will these persons with disabilities ever encourage others like them to get education. Never. One also needs to understand that at least in a few cases, the effort put in by a person with disabilities is much more than a normal person and and despite that if the scope is less, then can you consider both a normal and disabled equal????????????????????????????????????????? Same applies for SC ST. Many of them go to schools and college despite strong opposition from their parents and family. Many don’t have access to any facilities like books, tuitions, etc. Many still face strong from their peer group and yet do not loose their courage. And yet they go on. Who told you opportunities for all are equal.
One also needs to strongly oppose people like Bal Thakrey, who suggest that reservation should be on economic basis. Such policies like the one regarding reservation are based on general social trends. These trends indicate that as far as the upper classes are concerned, people do understand and value the importance of education therefore mostly do not let their economic constraints come in the way of their child’s education. They not only realize that education can do wonders in regard to changing their economic situation in the future but is also a necessity for the overall development of the child. This is unfortunately not true for SC ST who have been cut-off from the main social system for centuries. Reservation will help them realise that.
The case cited by you that many children belonging to lower class do not study as they are assured of their future but it is equally true that many people belonging to this class have proved their worth and got through on merit.
The only solution to this whole issue is to go back to the basics and implement the whole quota system in the manner Dr. B R Ambedkar wanted it to be implemented. The government needs to identify SC, ST, compel them to make use of the quota system come what may, implement the whole policy with utmost honesty, use the quota system not as a booty to get votes but as a medium to change the mindset of this section and to encourge them to make its use. Sincere efforts should be made for a stipulated period of time,say 20 years and then the system should be scrapped.
April 25th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Hi Alok. You’ve made valid points, but I insist quotas are not the solution. All these ills, regarding disability too, can be tackled if there is enough justice and equality in our society. If you want to fight for something, fight for equal opportunities, and fight for your right to get education and job. Dr. Ambedkar at that time didn’t know he was awakening a Frankenstein’s monster.
There is a reason why I oppose the quota system: it’s the fear of giving up. If you start resorting to quotas, it means you have given up on societal reforms. Quotas mean your society is doomed. Read Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged and you’ll understand.
April 25th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
I think, Amrit is elegible for reservation on three counts. First, he is physically challenged, second, his grandfather was freedomfighter, so another quota, thirdly he belongs to some so called OBC clan too! As far as I know, his grandfather had lost eveything in partition and led quite a hard life in India as a refugee. No school in Delhi was prepared to admit Amrit in its school due to his physical disability. I have never seen, him or his sisters or his father to seek the benefits of reservation at any stage in life. So Even if Amrit walk on crutches, he doesn’t need the crutches of reservation. We need more and more people like him in our country, and not losers who wants crutches of reservation, though they are mentally not disabled.
April 26th, 2007 at 7:19 am
Everybody who is taking part in this debate on quota issue or those who are regular visitors to this blog, must and must read the comments left by Hina on this issue as she has summed up the whole issue beautifully. A desirable situation would be that the society comes to intellectual level where it by itself rejects the philosophy of Quota as it has been done by the likes of Amrit Hallan. But the question is how will the society come to that level? Quota issue is meant to do just the same.
According to social scientists, with the liberalization of Indian economy, the number of people below poverty line have increased each day. Whereas each one of those components of the society will need to be helped and rehabilitated, Quota system is a means to help the SC ST help themselves even in that scenario. Whereas this system, which hopefully has been put in place keeping the Indian socio, political and economical scenario in mind, needs to stay, deliberate efforts will have to be made to make the youth realize that the quota system does have a price tag attached to it. And that price tag is that one other person has to forgo his or her due right for a social cause. Systematically, this should have been the last generation to be put under the quota regime. But, keeping in mind that the results have not been desirable, most unfortunately, the whole process needs to be re-organized. What the planners need to be thinking is to implement the policies in such a manner that 60 years from now, our great grand children speak in one voice against quota.
As far as the present generation of upper class is concerned
it will have to be explained and made to realize that this is their contribution to a cause. YES, THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF IT ALL AND MAY NEED SOME PERSUASION ON PART OF THE GOVERNMENT.
Alas, keeping in mind the questions raised by the apec court on this issue (be aware, no one in the country has the right to openly discuss or criticize the rulings of the court. this is equally true for the press. If the court feels, it can take action against anyone doing so)the situation is bound to worsen than improve. If not handled with care, the issue can become much worse than what it was in 1990, when V P Singh government took a sudden decision to implement Mandel Commission Report.
April 26th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
ok. i admit i made a mistake. But its better to rectify it. And its better late than never. Sorry. The decision to implement Mandal Commission Report by V P Singh government was not taken in 1990 but in 1989.
May 10th, 2007 at 5:35 am
The quota system seems to have not achieved the goal it was mainly conceived for.I understand that Dr.Ambedkar was the one to start these kind of reservations to bring a degree of homogeneity in the Indian society and eliminate the discrimination among people.But the opposite seems to have happened.It is all vote bank politics………i wud like to re-quote the words of alok
“The government needs to identify SC, ST, compel them to make use of the quota system come what may, implement the whole policy with utmost honesty, use the quota system not as a booty to get votes but as a medium to change the mindset of this section and to encourge them to make its use. Sincere efforts should be made for a stipulated period of time,say 20 years and then the system should be scrapped. “