FACTS againest MYTHS V0L-VII-5-2001
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- FACTS againest MYTHS V0L-VII-5-2001
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VIKAS ADHYAYAN KENDRA
Vol VI # 2/2000
INI ORMATION BULLETIN
Status Quo or Quest for Social Justice
Truth Behind Anti- Reservation Myths - II
Ram Puniyani
O MMENT
he realisation that the state structure
break the hold of social and caste elite in
is dominated by the upper castesthe state machinery. But this process that
elite goes back to the times of Phule,
has been extremely slow with the result that
who observed the hold of upper caste not
the old pattern of upper caste being more
only on the social scene but also in the state
in the Govt, jobs keeps perpetuating itself.
structure. Prior to British times also most
Since the overall social mobility was not
of the Kings employed upper castes,
very rapid, those upper castes who were in
especially the Brahmins in different levels
the seats of power and privileges exercised
of administration. British followed the same
all their options to ensure that the
pattern and this section of society
reservation policy is torpedoed at the level
continued to occupy the
of implementation. By
major
seats
in
various
acts
of
WHAT CONSTITUTION?
bureaucracy. The social | IN THIS VILLAGE WE FOLLOW THE ONE DRAFTED | administrative
BY MANU?
mobility resulting from
commissions
and
^ie industrialisation
omissions this century
^•ocess gave the
old stranglehold to a
impetus
to
the
great extent has kept
movement of so far
itself going despite
excluded sections to
different provisions and
come
to
the
the struggles to get the
administrative and
for
the
I justice
Govt. jobs. Realising
downtrodden.
I
that these sections who
8 It is because of this that
are now aspiring for
8 a big backlog in the
social justice have been
8 recruitment of reserved
deprived, of this .for
8 categories has taken
centuries, the founding
8 place. The original idea
fathers
of
our
8 that in 15-20 years the
constitution thought of
8 reservations can serve
reservations for the
I their function and then
Dalits as one of the
I can be done away with
measures which will
z
T
Z------------------------- s
(
FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY )
z
I The first thing that I can confidently say is
I that those of us who became lecturers under
I the reservation quota are as competent as
I any other teachers are, and added to that,
I many of us are more sympathetic to rural
I Telugu medium boys and girls, since a
8 majority of us came from the rural areas.
I
I In fact, the Renaissance of the rural masses
I - the SC, ST, and Backward classes in a way
8 began with the implementation of
I reservations (the implementation of
I reservations for OBCs in Andhra began
I in 1967). Many of my friends managed to get
8 into University after having gone through
I school, living in social welfare hostels. For
I them it was the beginning of new hope,
I passing into a new life.
I — Kancha Ilaih, “Experience as a frame
I work of debate’, Lokayan, July October
8 1990, Page 35-36.
I
did not take into consideration the fact that
mere making the policy is just one part of
the story. The implementation machinery
is equally if not more important for the
same. And what we witnessed during these
50 odd years is as to how the affirmative
actions can be sabotaged by the wellentrenched bureaucracy, which primarily
belonged to the upper castes. The present
scenario is a mix where for electoral
compulsions most of the upper caste parties
are supporting the reservation but their
support base, well rooted in the posts of
power, is sabotaging it in practice. There is
also a strong word of mouth campaign
against reservations and also against those
who have benefited due to that. To add to
the woes and miseries of Dalit-Bahujans the
current economic restructuration and the
govt, policy of putting a moratorium on jobs
is increasing the unemployment in a big
way. Another fact, which is of great
relevance, is that in private sector
employment these reservations did not
apply and here the domination of
traditional upper caste has been
maintained to a great extent. In nut shell
one can say that the reservation policy did
help in the social restructuration but this
Q FACTS against MYTHS
was quiet inadequate and in
addition to the reservations
something more needs to be done
for bringing in social justice to the
sections which have been victims
of India’s caste rigidity.
MYTH: Reservation policy is
perpetuating the caste system
and in turn resulting in social
disharmony.
FACT: As has been explained
above, caste system has been
integral ‘deep set’ and ‘structural’
part of Indian society. It is the
symbol of social injustice. It is
precisely to bring in social justice
that reservation policy has been
implemented. It is meant to break
the cultural, social and education^^
constraints in which the lower
castes are chained. By giving them
social justice, the deep insecurity,
and inferior position can be
undone. With the so called ‘normal
(i.e. without the provisions of reservations)
policies’ these disadvantaged groups will
continue to remain in the deprived,
marginal position in the society. The social
discord and disharmony results when a
section of population remains deprived for
long time.
✓
By trying to reverse this situation,
reservation policy aims to bring the
disadvantaged groups in the mainstream of
society. The caste identity, which wag.
imposed from centuries, was meant w
oppress and deprive them of their social
rights. Reservations aim to use the caste
precisely to break these permanent
shackles. Caste system perpetuates social
injustice as low castes are deprived of social
resources on the grounds of their castes and
by ‘providing them opportunities because
of their caste’; the old situation can be
reversed. Also the jobs and provision of
education has the potential of changing
ones worldview, has the potential of giving
newer ‘deeper’ identities and help to break
the caste based identities in the long run?
This myth is a handiwork of those elite who
.so far have been controlling the social
resources precisely because of their caste
Q
privileges and now seeing the erosion of
their monopoly on the same they are
perpetuating this myth.
MYTH: Reservations are unjustified as
such, and more so in the matters of
promotion etc.
FACT: Mandal commission in particular
has recommended that reservation should
not only be at the point of recruitment but
also at all levels of promotion. The above
data shows that as we go up higher in the
ladder the number of backward castes goes
on declining in matters of jobs and even in
educational arena. Various courts have held
in their judgments the Constitutional
validity of reservations in promotions as
well6. We will have to have a long-term view
the social phenomenon. Overcoming the
oblem of social oppression cannot be a joy
ride as the problem is so much deep set, and
wide spread. We have seen above that
despite provisions of some facilities many
a seats meant for backwards for the lack of
suitable candidates, remain unfilled
meaning that they (the backwards) are not
in a position to enhance their educational
qualifications as the social environment is
still adverse to them.
If these provisions are not made we will
shortly land up with a ‘new caste system’ in
which backwards will occupy class IV posts
of peons and sweepers and at best as junior
clerks. The reservations should aim at total
abolition of ‘structural constraints’ in social
pbility of individuals and thus their
presentation at all the rungs of
employment is absolutely essential. Else the
traditional four-caste system will be
substituted by ‘four class employment
structure’ with backwards occupying the
lowest rungs of the ladder.
•
MYTH: Due to reservation policy
deserving candidates do not get their
due and merit and efficiency is the
victim.
FACT: This upper caste concoction has
mystified the fact that merit and efficiency
cannot just be determined by the marks
obtained in the exams. Mandal commission
(1980) expressed this by saying, “Nothing
generates so much heat and genuine
(^ FACTS against MYTHS
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Job Reservations
We the so-called gold medalists,
Seem to be anti-Mandalist.
Born richer than they the poor
We feel that they are all to jeer
Our want is social equality
But doesn't it come from equal
opportunity?
PVe talk of merit for promotions
But get admission with donations.
Yes, fake certificates are our ways
To keep the deprived at bay.
The Media too has highlighted
immolations
There was nothing to burn for
reservations
These are childish games
That gold-medalists threaten to play
An act of cowardice I must say,
To deny those who don't have a say.
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- Ernesto Noronha
indignation as the concept of 'merit’"7. The
ideologues of upper castes’ arguments
revolve around the understanding that
educational mark sheet is the 'sole index’
of one’s merit. Supreme Court judge (AIR
85 SC 1495) in Vasant Kumar’s case8
pointed out “And what is merit? Is not a
child of SC, ST or OBC who has been
brought up in an atmosphere of penury,
illiteracy and anti-culture, who is looked
down by tradition and society, who has no
books and magazines to read at home, no
radio to listen, no T.V. to watch, no one to
help him with his house work, who goes to
nearest local board school or college, whose
parents are either illiterate or so ignorant
and ill informed that he cannot even hope
to seek their advice on any matter of
importance, a child who must perforce
trudge to the nearest public reading room
to read a newspaper to know what is
happening in the world, has not this child
got merit?. If he with all disadvantages is
able to secure the qualifying 40% or 50%
marks, while children of the upper classes,
who have all the advantages, who go to
St.Paul’s and St. Stephen’s College and who
have perhaps been specially coached for
examination, may secure 70%, 80% or even
90% of the marks? Surely a child who has
been able to jump so many hurdles may be
expected to do better and better as he
progresses in life? Why then should he be
stopped at the threshold on any alleged
meritorious principles? The requirement of
efficiency may always be safe- guarded by
the prescription of minimum standards.
Mediocrity has always triumphed in the
past in the case of upper classes. But why
should the so-called meritorian principle be
put against mediocrity when we come to
SCs, STs and OBCs?”
for ‘greener pastures’ which in this case is
usually a ‘green card’. And again how many
of the meritorious “upper castes doctors”
are practicing in poor villages or poor low
caste areas? What about the'merit’ of
students walking ‘royally in1 the so-called
‘donation - capitation fee’ colleges. Mihir
Desai in his perceptive piece9 remarks “for
forty years we have allowed this
‘meritorious .and efficient’ bureaucracy to
deliver the goods. It has failed completely
for forty years. We have a lot (96%) of upper
caste top bureaucrats to rape and ravage
the country. Efficiency can only'mean
greater response to people’s needs. The
‘cream’ of society has totally failed to
deliver the goods."
In the same case the judge remarked, "A
mere securing of high marks at an
examination may not necessarily mark out
a good administrator. An efficient
administrator must be one, who possesses
among other qualities, the capacity to
understand with sympathy and therefore
tackle bravely the problem of a large
segment of population constituting the
weaker sections of the people. And who
would be better one’s than those who belong
to those very sections? Why not ask why
35 years after Independence, the position
of SCs etc has not greatly improved? Is it
not a legitimate question to ask whether
things might have been different had the
district, state and central bureaucrats been
drawn in larger number from these
classes?”
MYTH: Ifstate accepts caste as the basis
for backwardness, it legitimises thQ
caste system and institutionalises it.
Similarly we note that in Karnataka, A.P.,
Maharashtra, Gujrat, Kerala & Tamil Nadu
reservations for OBCs have been
institutionalised much earlier, then states
like Rajasthan, Orissa, Bihar & Harayana.
Can any body in his wisdom say that
administration of states like Bihar,
Rajasthan, Harayana and Orissa is better
than the administration of Kerala, Tamil
Nadu, Karnataka etc.? In educational
institutions this applies in still lesser
degree since the reservation is at entrance
level only and not at the level of qualifying.
Coming to ‘meritorious’ students of I.I.T’s,
it is a well known fact that close to 60% of
them any way leave this country in search
FACTS against MYTHS
FACT: This myth has been cleverly
percolated by consciously underplaying the
reality of society. Caste has been
institutionalised in the society so deeply
that it became a ‘unbreakable’ part of the
society, and the ‘normal’ functioning (i.e.
without reservation) would not have been
able to break the concretised caste
hierachy. The upper caste who have been
the beneficiaries of caste system, whose
practices institutionalised the caste system
are today reacting to the measures which
have the potential of breaking their
monopoly on social privileges and resources.
They want to ensure that the march of
‘social justice’ has to be curtailed, so th^l
‘their reservations’ on jobs can continue
unhindered. It is in this direction that they
are percolating this myth.
To put it rhetorically: are communal
identities due to Muslim personal law? Is
sexism there because of the effect of
Women’s right to property act? Do dowry
deaths occur because of Dowry prohibition
act? No, the truth is the other way around.
Muslim personal law had to be enacted
because communal identities are prevalent
in the society. Because of sexism, women’s
right to the property act had to be
promulgated to protect the women. To
prevent the dowry deaths Dowry
Prohibition act had to be legislated.
4
The sharpening of caste identities due to
reservation will be a temporary, transient
phenomenon. Reservation in the short term
will equip some from the disadvantaged
sections to come up and break the social
constraints, and in the long term this should
loosen the caste identities, bringing the
society closer to modern notions of equality,
which gives the space to the exploited
sections to fight out for their human, social
and political rights. Though it is not a
solution, reservation is an avenue for the
downtrodden to wage the battles for their
rights.
means like free or subsidised education,
free book’s- hostel etc., can go a long way.
The lack of education seats and jobs for
backwards is not only due to economic
reasons. It is mainly due to social
backwardness.
We can observe that a poor Brahmin may
be economically an equivalent of a poor Koli
or a poor Machhi but socially he is not.
There is much more opportunity for
Brahmins to acquire higher education than
are available to the children of Kolis etc.
So also the social and family environment
available to Brahmins is much more
favorable. Even a poor Brahmin family does
The caste identities in southern states have
loosened vis a vis the states
where the reservations have not
been implemented. In the states I ...... For Phule, Ambedkar, Periyar, Shahu
Bike Rajasthan, Orissa, Bihar I Maharaj and others, reservation was not simply
intensity of caste struggle is I designed as a kind of helping hand for the
more deep. In southern states I oppressed, but as a part of a broad and
the lower castes have been able I visionary attack on a system of exploitation.
to get some respectability, as I Rather than being a goal to be weighed against
reservations
have
been I “merit” and “efficiency” and thus limited; it was
operative since long, vis-a-vis the I seen as a step in the direction of restructuring
states where degree and I the process of governance itself.
duration of reservations has been I ......broad-scale reservation policy(implemented
less. In a short span of 40-50 I by Shahu Maharaj) was aimed not simply at
years we have been able to I providing a form of social mobility for non
witness that in states where the I Brahmans, it was designed as a blow at the
reservations were implemented I concentration of administrative power in the
better,
the
caste I hands of uppercaste communities.
instutionalisation and caste I
..... Thus the reservation system was instituted
struggle is much less compared I not so much on the basis of the Constitution as
to the states where this has not I on that of the decades-old elite resistance to
implemented for OBCs. I restructuring public employment. It serves
This single fact shows the falsity I several purposes. It allows the elite to maintain
of the myth propagated by the I the facade of a generous patron of Dalits and
ideologues of upper castes.
I Adivasis while continuing to deprive them of
mass-level education and access to resource. It
I
MYTH: For reservation
provides
, a process to absorb some of their
I
economic criterion is better
brightest members into a system still based
I
than the caste criterion.
I more on extortion and corruption than true
FACT: The myth making rounds I public service. Finally, it continues to block a
is that only poor need I true representation of the majority of the
reservation and so economic I nation’s population, a representation which the
criterion have to be the basis of I founders and leaders of the anti-caste
reservations.
This
point I movement had always seen as part of a fulland
social-economic
overlooks the purpose of I scale political
transformation.
reservation in our society, which I
is to offset social and economic I
- Gail Omvedt- The Purpose ofReservation,
backwardness. For purely I
The Hindu 24-25 March 2000.
economic backwardness, simple
FACTS against MYTHS
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not stay outside the village. They do not
have to face social humiliation or
discrimination in school or college. Caste
status is not going to affect a Brahmin’s job
opportunities. All these advantages are not
available to Koli or Macchi students.
Similar comparison will hold true between
.any high caste student and an OBC.
MYTH: Reservations alone will solve
the problems of dalits.
FACT: This myth is harbored by many
dalits who out of frustration of deprivations
feel that reservations are a panacea for the
ills, which are afflicting their castes. It is
true that dalits have, and still can be helped
a lot by the implementation of various
reservation policies. As pointed out above
they open the gates of opportunities. The
policies followed by the current ruling elite
have the focus on ‘profit’ making and ‘social
management’ and not at providing jobs to
all the persons. The creation of new jobs is
declining; the old jobs are being abolished.
There is a big discrepancy in the social need
for jobs, and the ‘number of jobs available’,
also this negative margin is on the rise
resulting in rising unemployment.
Private sector has the motto of profit and it
employs all the mechanisms to keep the jobs
at the minimum possible level. Automation,
mechanization, C & C machines have cut
down the number of jobs to drastic levels
and all the newer industries plan at having
minimum number of workers employed. So
what will reservation mean? Where will
reservation be applied if the number of jobs
themselves is restricted? Has reservation
been effective in the private sector at all,
which has been most discriminating against
the lower castes, minorities and women in
the matters of employment?
Thus far from being a panacea, reservations
can just be a small step in solving the
problems of depressed classes. The crux lies
in changing the focus of present policies,
where profit is the central motive of social
process. The focus has to be the need based
policies which look at employment for all
as the basic social necessity, which ensures
that private sector is answerable to the
Q ' FACTS against MYTHS
society as far as job creation is concerned,
which looks at jobs and provision for work
for all as the fundamental policy guiding our
society.
Can just shouting from housetops or
appeals to the powers that be bring in the
ideal situation? By no stretch of imagination
one can conceive of such a state. The answer
lies in struggling for ‘right of employment
to all’, struggling for the principles of
egalitarian and just society, by struggling
for education, health and other social
facilities for all, not as a matter of charity
but as a matter of right.
We can’t afford to be complacent and feel
that implementation of reservation will do
justice to all. The results coming in are just
a part of the infrastructure, which caij^
enable the dalits to stand up to struggle foflP
their rights. Rather than ‘reservations’
being an end, they are just a ‘means’ and
that too a partial means to achieve total
social justice and egalitarian society. In
nutshell they are no substitute for ‘caste
struggle’, and ‘social struggles for rights of
the oppressed’, which are the most
important means to enhance the power of
the oppressed and exploited sections of our
society.
REFERENCES
S.B.Kolpe, ‘Reservations; Brahminism and
caste’, Clarity publication, Mumbai 1997,
Page 2.
2. Quoted in Mihir Desai, Lokayan Bulletin™
July-Oct 1990, New Delhi, Page 15.
3. Ratna Kapur, Benda Cossman,
Conceptualising Gender, Endangendeing
community’, EPW 24 Apri 95 Pg Ws-93.
4. Mihir Desai, ibid
5. Mihir Desai, ibid
6. Mihir Desai ibid-page 29-30.
7. Quotedin, V.T.Rajashdkhar, ‘Merit, My
Foot,’ Dalit Sahitya Academy, Bangalore,
1996, Pg 33.
8. Quoted in Mihir Desai, ibid, Pg 27.
9. Mihir Desai: Ibid, Page 28
10. Mihir Desai: Ibid Page 26
1.
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Mandal commission at a glance
To decide the indices for backwardness a dozen castes well known for their social
and educational backwardness, were chosen, various indicators tried out and finally
llindicators were selected for determining backwardness. These were:
A. Social:
- Castes/classes considered socially backward by others;
- Castes/classes which mainly depend on manual labour for their livelihood;
- Castes/classes where at least 25% females and 10% males above the state average
get married at an age below 17 years in rural areas and at least 10% females and
5% males do so in urban areas; Castes/classes whose participation of females in
work is at least 25% above the state average;
B. Educational:
Castes/classes where the number of children in the age group of 5-15 years who
never attended school is at least 25% above the state average;
Castes/classes where the rate of dropout in the age group of 5-15 years is at least
25% above the state average; Castes/classes where the rate of dropout in the age
group of 5-15 years who never attended school is at least 25% above the state
average; Castes/classes amongst whom the percentage of matriculates is at least
25% below the state average;
C. Economic:
Castes/classes where the average value of family assets is at least 25% below the
state average; Castes/classes where the number of families living in kuchha houses
is at least 25% above the state average; Castes/classes where the source of drinking
water is beyond half a kilometer for more that 50% of the household; Castes/classes
where the number of households having taken consumption loan is at least 25%
above the state average.
Each of the above indicators was given a weightage, Social indicators were each
given weightage of 3 points, educational indicators 2 points and economic
indicators 1 point, totaling 22 points. Any caste group whose total weightage was
more than 11 points was classified as socially and economically backward, for that
state.
The following method was used for obtaining data :
1. A detailed questionnaire was prepared for the general public and advertised
extensively in English and vernacular newspapers all over the country.
2. A number of MPs were called to give evidence. 97 MPs personally gave
evidence.
3. The commission toured the states and union territories and many villages,
met elected representatives, social and caste organisations and received
representations from the public;
4. Research planning teams, expert committees and a Technical Advisory
Committee were set up, and in consultation with these groups, the sample
size, questionnaire etc. were decided. Survey of 405 of the 406 Districts in
the country was conducted.
Recomendations
A. Reservation :
27% Reservation to OBCS; Candidates selected on merit in open competition should
not be adjusted against their reservation quota;
FACTS against MYTHS
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Reservation should be made available in promotional quota at all levels;
Unfilled reserved quota to be carried forward for 3 years and de-reserved
thereafter;
A roster system to be adopted; Reservation to be applicable in public sector
undertakings under Central & State Governments and to nationalised banks
reservation also applicable to private sector undertakings who have received
financial assistance from the Government in one form or the other; Reservation
applicable to all the universities and affiliated colleges.
B. Educational Concessions:
Intensive time bound programme for adult education; Special Schools with free
boarding and lodging;
C. Financial Assistance
Separate network of financial and technical institutions to foster business and
industrial enterprises among OBCs; Suitable finance for setting up small scale
industries.
D. Structural Changes :
Radical land reforms and transformation of the existing production relations
especially in the agricultural sector; A part of surplus land available due to ceiling
laws to be given to OBCs.
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