In midst of Anti-Reservation Ire

India's political scene is made hot because of new reservation policy of Indian government. Ironically, it all started by not a formal announcement of the policy but a casual remark by the HRD minister Arjun singh in a press meet. On April 5, when the media approached Arjun Singh after a function in New Delhi seeking clarifications whether his Ministry proposed to implement reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in educational institutions, including Central professional institutes such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). The Minister replied in the affirmative and explained that Article 15(5) of the Constitution had come into force on January 20, 2006, after having received Presidential assent, thus facilitating the advancement of the socially and educationally backward classes in matters of admission to educational institutions through reservation of seats and other means.

 

He is not bringing something new, but following what's said on Mandal commission report (and not completely) which was submitted in 1980. Interestingly, the mandal commission classified people as backward class/castes based on 11 criteria viz.

 

Social

• Castes/classes considered as socially backward by others.
• Castes/classes which mainly depend on manual labour for their livelihood.
• Castes/classes where the percentage of married women below 17 is 25% above the state average in rural areas and 10% in urban areas; and that of married men is 10% and 5% above the state average in rural and urban areas respectively.
• Castes/classes where participation of females in work is at least 25% above the state average.

Educational

• Castes/classes where the number of children in the age group of 5 to 15 years who never attended school is at least 25% above the state average.
• Castes/classes where the rate of student drop-out in the age group of 5-15 years is at least 25% above the state average.
• Castes/classes amongst whom the proportion of matriculates is at least 25% below the state average

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 kachcha houses is at least 25 % above the state average.
• Castes/classes where the source of drinking water is beyond half a kilometer for more than 50% of the households.
• Castes/classes where the number of the house-holds having taken a consumption loan is at least 25% above the state average.

Is the 11 indicator's sufficient or sacrosanct? Can't a powerful caste group lobby with the government to include their caste in OBC list? Vatsan was saying its better to get your caste moved to OBC category from FC, rather than fighting with the government in roads. That idea can become true in near future

Sources
[+] Comments on Mandal Commission Report by Dinakar Sarikar.
[+] Cover story "Examining Reservation" by Frontline Magazine

 

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