By Dr Abhay Kumar
The EWS Reservation goes against the basic principle of social justice enshrined in the Indian Constitution as Reservation is given to socially and educationally backward castes and communities. It cannot be given based on economic backwardness.
The deprived communities need affirmative action because they are historically marginalized. Upper castes, contrary to them, are neither historically marginalized nor are socially and educationally backwards.
As a matter of fact, upper castes continue to dominate every walk of life from legislative bodies to media and from the judiciary to college and university.
From bureaucracy to media and civil society, they are controlling everything. From business and commerce and from religious institutions and temples to lands and resources, they own an overwhelming proportion.
If a large number of upper caste candidates are unable to get admission to educational institutes and find jobs, it is due to the anti-people policies of the government. No one can deny the serious issue of poverty and unemployment. It is true that upper castes, too, are victims of the wrong government policies.
But the solution to the problem faced by upper castes is not diluting the very concept of reservation but putting pressure on the government for launching welfare policies.
We need to fight against the evils of privatization of education. We must demand more colleges and universities. We must protest against unemployment. We must fight for more and more budgetary allocation to health and education sectors and for generating employment.
We should not forget that in a hierarchical society, reservation is needed to bring historically marginalized castes and communities to the process of decision-making. In other words, it is a means to democratize society, polity and economy. Reservation is needed to help every public institution reflect the diversity of society.
The deprived communities need affirmative action because they are historically marginalized. Upper castes, contrary to them, are neither historically marginalized nor are socially and educationally backwards.
As a matter of fact, upper castes continue to dominate every walk of life from legislative bodies to media and from the judiciary to college and university.
From bureaucracy to media and civil society, they are controlling everything. From business and commerce and from religious institutions and temples to lands and resources, they own an overwhelming proportion.
If a large number of upper caste candidates are unable to get admission to educational institutes and find jobs, it is due to the anti-people policies of the government. No one can deny the serious issue of poverty and unemployment. It is true that upper castes, too, are victims of the wrong government policies.
But the solution to the problem faced by upper castes is not diluting the very concept of reservation but putting pressure on the government for launching welfare policies.
We need to fight against the evils of privatization of education. We must demand more colleges and universities. We must protest against unemployment. We must fight for more and more budgetary allocation to health and education sectors and for generating employment.
We should not forget that in a hierarchical society, reservation is needed to bring historically marginalized castes and communities to the process of decision-making. In other words, it is a means to democratize society, polity and economy. Reservation is needed to help every public institution reflect the diversity of society.
Babasaheb Ambedkar has repeatedly said that good laws alone do not ensure justice. To do justice, we, according to Dr. Ambedkar, must have the people from marginalized communities in public offices so that they can ensure those good laws are implemented.
That is why the upper castes should come up and speak against EWS reservations. They should focus their energy on participating in the movement for demanding social welfare schemes.
The Supreme Court, therefore, should immediately scrap EWS reservation and ask the government to better focus on the social sector if it is serious about the welfare of the people including the upper castes.
That is why the upper castes should come up and speak against EWS reservations. They should focus their energy on participating in the movement for demanding social welfare schemes.
The Supreme Court, therefore, should immediately scrap EWS reservation and ask the government to better focus on the social sector if it is serious about the welfare of the people including the upper castes.
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