Reservation - Letter to editor TOI on 12th Dec 2011

Welfare Govts. all over the world always try to uplift economically weaker sections of the society as a policy. So poor people in India are also should be looked after by the govt as a duty of it. Additionally India has a problem of caste system which makes certain caste people are poor for centuries. So caste wise degree of backwardness is analysed and an affirmative action as reservation system introduced. No way has it reduced the duty of a nation to uplift economically poor people of the country (Women reservation in the parliament is also an intentional action like wise).

                Fixed identity of an individual is not a phenomenon in India alone. The religion, customs, traditions etc. are not decided by the individuals, all are fixed by birth. Reservation system may fix it again some times but re-writing of centuries old horoscope of certain castes in Indian society is the most important role of modern Indian.

                Merit based private sector can very well dictate the required parameters fixed for the selection process, but then from the qualified people, they should select people to achieve an inclusive society. Our growing private sector should show the attitude for it.

                Now one can see the ‘untouchables’, once called, find place in offices and in administrative chairs and in every strata of society because we have taken an affirmative action to give them a place (not only voice). It happened not at all because we all thought, agreed and said that all are equal. It happened because we took concrete action as reservation.

                Only we need to look into its misuse, but your editorial said it other way.