(TAKING RESERVATION BENEFITS TO THE
MOST DESERVED PEOPLE OF THE CASTE)
WEIGHTED INDEXING SYSTEM
By
Dr. Vikas Mahatme
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
Padmashree Awarded Eye Specialist
If we look at the history of Reservation Policy in India, it appears that even British Government had given reservations to certain groups. In Maharashtra also, Shahu Maharaj had implemented reservations for the needy. However, the great work of giving reservations the constitutional status and channelizing it was done by Honourable Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkarji. He laid this foundation for ANTYODAY which is the one of its own kind. And so disembarked India for this social change! The exemplary work of Babasaheb Ambedkarji made everyone aware about the social justice – there is no doubt about it. Although he had set up a time limit to end the reservation system – perhaps in the hope that we will be able to change everything in this time frame and social equality will prevail by then. Unfortunately, this did not happen. Even almost after 70 years reservations have to stay for Social Justice. Why this must have happened? This calls for thought provocation and discussion.
At the outset I want to be very clear on two things. Firstly, I am NOT against the Reservation Policy. Secondly, I do NOT wish to bring in any changes in the existing caste-wise quota given by the Government. My efforts are just to try to accommodate everyone in place and find place for everyone – specially for the most backward in that particular caste reservation quota. Reaching out to the last person in the society – ANTYODAY – if this is our goal then we need to reconsider certain facts about the existing reservation policy. The basic purpose of reservations is to give opportunity and benefit to the most backward person in any given caste.
It is often observed that the caste/tribe that comes under reservation category hardly 10 % select people avail the benefits of reservations. The same 10% highly educated empowered families keep on prospering by using benefits of reservation policy every time. At the end, almost 90% people of the same caste/ tribe who actually deserve the benefits, are devoid of benefits. Therefore, the end result is that the caste /tribe doesn’t progress but only few select families of the sect prosper and move ahead. If we intend to bring some change, we have to go ahead with some reforms without disturbing the reservation quota.
My own experience can explain the need of it in better way. Some people belonging to ‘Matang Caste’ in Maharashtra approached me. They were expressing concern over the condition of their caste people. I was surprised. “You are already enjoying reservation benefits of SC category; still why do you complain?” I asked. They said - “we are in the list of SC, but we are not able to compete with educated and economically stronger castes within SC category. This is the reason benefits of SC reservation don’t reach us although we belong to SC category. We need sub-categorization”
In another instance, I was visiting a Minister who belonged to a backward community. His son too was MLA from reserved constituency. His maid servant – who also belonged to the same caste – was expressing her inability to come for work for next 2 days. The Minister said instantly– “Alright. Then send your daughter to clean the floor tomorrow”. It means, Minister or MLA’s son will be MLA; Doctor’s son will be a doctor and maid servant’s daughter will be a maid servant…. And this vicious cycle will go on for generations. Why can’t a maid servant’s son become MLA? This is the problem with our existing reservation system.
I will quote one more example. In ST category some tribes like Meena are considered as highly educated, affluent, prospering and economically stronger community. Please let me be very clear that I do not have any grudge against Meena tribe. In fact, I admire the efforts taken by them to bring their tribe to the existing status. But it remains the fact that it is very difficult for the rest of the tribes in ST category to compete with Meena tribe and avail the reservation benefits.
CHALLENGES AHEAD
There are some castes / tribes in OBC that exist in the list of reservaon on paper but are not able to get the reservaon benefits. For example – Snake Charmers, sect walking with bull (Nandi Bail), Dombari, Kolha, Bahurupiya, Garudi – these castes are included in the reservaon quota but fail to avail the benefits. If we consider some OBC (Other Backward Class) then some castes / tribes like Shepherds doing sheep rearing, nomadic tribe Banjara – the reservaon benefits haven't reached these people yet; though they are in the list of OBC.
If we see carefully then we realise that there is a fundamental difference in SC / ST reservaons and OBC reservaons. SC / ST reservaons are based completely on castes whereas OBC reservaon is based on class as the name goes – Other Backward CLASS. OBC is NOT a other backward CASTE but other backward CLASS. Mandal Commission has rightly formed a list of OBC depending upon social, educaonal and economic criteria. In the caste based system a person enters the reservaon system by birth and becomes a part of that reservaon system forever. If such person and his/her family once becomes educated and prosperous then they keep enjoying the benefits of reservaon policy even aer prospering on every front. On the other hand, those who are extremely backward and most deserving people of the same caste / tribe remain without reservaon benefits.
In the exisng reservaon system, we see one basic assumpon. All castes coming under SC category are considered as equally backward and so is the case with all tribes coming under ST category as well as OBC that covers over 1,000 castes. We all know very well that it is not a reality. All people of one caste or tribe cannot be equally backward. This is a profound injusce. We assume unequal as equal and offer them opportunies accordingly – which in my opinion is a grave mistake.
SUGGESTIONS : WEIGHTED INDEXING
Based on the principle of Weighted Indexing I have developed my suggestions. It sounds somewhat difficult to understand but using Aadhaar Card or other technology, it can be executed very well. Also, a software can be developed to maintain transparency. This system is based on the marks and score obtained. However, those with LESS score will be considered as more deserving to get the reservation benefits. Based on different criteria, Plus and Minus marks will be given. Depending upon the score, the one with least score (sometimes the score may be in negative), will get maximum priority in the reservation. It is very important that a clear message is given to the people - that those with Least score only will be eligible to get preference in the reservation benefits. Less score means – more backward; and more backward people only deserve to get preference in getting the reservation benefits. In this way the more backward will be empowered in the attempt to bring all at one level. Backwardness is not a thing to be proud of; in fact, it is the failure of our system so far that in 70 years we could not eliminate the backwardness!
It is very important that all the castes included in OBC will be subcategorized on the basis of point system / weighted indexing. There will not be any change in the enlisted caste / tribes; their existing quota and percentage of reservation.
THE CRITERIA MAY BE AS FOLLOWS
- Education – Following can be the criteria to be considered.
- Negative marks will be given if candidate had taken Primary school education in Municipal / Zila Parishad School for minimum 3 years
- Negative marks will be given if candidate had taken Middle school education in Municipal / Zila Parishad School for minimum 3 years
- Negative marks will be given if college / junior college education was in Rural area for minimum 3 years.
- If the reservation benefits are availed, then Plus points will be added every time and so probability of getting reservation benefits will be less.
- Initially only for the first entry point, females will get special minus points so that their probability of getting reservation benefits will be higher.
- Children with single parent (because of death of either parent) may be given some minus points.
- Parents’ educational background also needs to be taken into consideration. There can be 4 tiers under this – Illiterate; Non-Matric; Matriculate but not Graduate; Graduate and above. The less the education of parents, the more Minus marks will be given.
- If either of the parents have already availed reservation benefits for themselves, then such person will get some Plus marks in order to reduce his claim on the reservation benefits.
- Taking benefits of Reservation Policy, if either of the parents have been in Government service for 1 year or more, or either of them have been a people’s representative (like Corporator, ZP member, MLA, MP etc), then Plus score will be added for such person so that his / her claim will be lessened.
- Preference will be given to families with Nomadic occupation and minus marks will be given. One has to very well understand the definition of word ‘Nomadic’ here. For example, an officer who is away for his job for 6-7 years cannot be called Nomadic.
- If the family income is less then Minus marks will be given to enhance possibility of getting reservation benefits. There can be different income slabs and depending on that it will be decided how many minus marks to give. The less the income, the more will be the preference.
- In the reserved constituency if someone gets elected availing the reservation benefits, then he / she will not be entitled to contest again for the same post taking benefit of reservation again. However, the constituency will remain reserved as before, but a new candidate will get an opportunity to emerge as a leader. In this way a single person will not have a monopoly on the basis of reservation benefits. In this way there will not be any injustice to the first person who got elected earlier because he/she will still be eligible to contest but from open category without availing reservation benefits again and again. In this way we are NOT reducing the percentage or quota of the caste / tribe / group, but we are trying to empower more and more people of that reservation category. This certificate will be issued only 6 months prior to the proposed elections.
- Any Government Job will be granted only for 5 years under reservation benefits. It is expected that in these 5 years the person will be empowered and will be able to find for himself/herself new opportunities after 5 years. In this process nowhere, we are reducing the quota of reservations. When one person exits from this government job, another person from the same reservation category will be given placement in that place. In this way more and more beneficiaries will come under the reservation umbrella and this will help in reducing the gap between the elite and the down trodden.
When Hon. Babasaheb Ambedkar developed unique reservation policy, at that time also people might have thought that it is difficult to implement. But we could do it. With the help of statisticians, information technology a software can be developed, and this system can be easily implemented. If we link it to Aadhaar Card, then it will become even easier. These are just guidelines. The score may be Minus or plus or the way the policymakers decide. If the eligibility criteria are fulfilled, the weighted indexing rules will be applied.
I wish to stress again and again on one and the only thing that this system does NOT reduce the percentage of reservation nor it changes the quota allocated to each category. This is because there is always a fear in people’s mind – ‘They wish to take away my reservation…. They wish to abolish the reservations…’ etc. It is a natural human nature that any new policy or system is always looked upon with doubts and fear in mind. With this proposed Weighted Indexing system, we are assured that maximum people of any particular reservation category will be brought under the reservation cover and not just the few select families which has been happening over the years.
In this way no reserved seat will go vacant. If the more backward person with least score doesn’t fulfil minimum eligibility criteria, then the next person whose score may be more but who fulfils the minimum eligibility criteria and who belongs to same reservation category, will be selected for the post.
In the current reservation system Creamy and Non-Creamy layer system is considered. Those crossing the income limit are not eligible to compete. For example, for a certain post reserved for OBC category, there is one OBC candidate, but he belongs to creamy layer then he / she will not be eligible to apply for the post as per existing reservation policy. Suppose there is no other candidate from OBC category who fulfils minimum eligibility criteria then the post will remain vacant or may be filled from open category. But in this suggested weighted indexing system, the post will go to the OBC category only; although his / her income is above creamy layer; this is because we have already considered income part while calculating score by weighted indexing principle. Basically, it is better if we remove the creamy layer and go ahead with this weighted indexing system only. This system will take care of purpose of creamy layer.
DILEMMA:
Many may have feeling that in this weighted indexing system, every time the person will have to produce a certificate stating his / her points. It is true. But today also for creamy layer certificate the person has to get a new one every time. So, I don’t think that this will be an additional burden to the beneficiaries. Since this can be linked to Aadhaar / other technology the points can get updates automatically and certificate can be created very easily.
Similarly, there can be query in the minds of many that whether the weighted indexing system is equivalent to subcategorization of OBC or not. To understand this, let us take an example: suppose we want to categorize 10,000 people. We can categorise by gender / education / income. All these criteria can again be subcategorized by Age – like 0 to 9 months; 9 months to 2 years; 2 to 5 years or likewise. This we term as subcategorization. So basically, subcategorization should fulfil 2 conditions. Firstly, all the people should be covered under subcategorization and secondly there should be defined criteria on which subcategorization is based. I think the weighted indexing fulfils both criteria. So, it is subcategorization of OBC. In addition, it is most important that this serves the basic purpose of reservation policy - the reservation benefits should reach the most deserved in the caste.
BENEFITS:
- The goal of the reservation policy is to grant equal opportunities of progressing to extremely backward class so as to bring them in main stream. This goal can be achieved through this Weighted Indexing. Preference given to extremely backward class can help us to fulfil our dream of Antyoday. Reservation for Antyoday to Sarvoday will become a reality.
- Hatred amongst the castes will be automatically reduced. At the same time as mentioned earlier, we have to consider our challenges too.
- Demand of Backward Class for subgroups like backward, most backward will not be there any longer. If we create subgroups also, the same problem of benefits being availed by only select people / families will continue to be there. With weighted Indexing this problem can be solved forever.
RESERVATION …. FOR ANTYODAY TO SARVODAY
TAKING RESERVATION BENEFITS TO THE MOST DESERVED PEOPLE OF THE CASTE
BY WEIGHTED INDEXING SYSTEM
Dr. Vikas Mahatme
M.P. Rajya Sabha
Padmashree Awarded Eye Specialist
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