Reservation : action for social equality

This book briefly reviews the policy of reservation in India. Inspite of some changes in the apparent feature of the caste system, its basic ingredients are intact. The dominance of upper castes in the power generating structures of society continues; previously it was through the social superiority and now it is the system of merit. The oceanic level of society is not in sight.

Our constitution envisages an egalitarian society. There are provisions of state action to achieve it. The free play of forces in a market system and the possibility of impending class war are poor substitutes of caste action for social equality. Equality in a democracy requires that preferential treatment be adopted in education and jobs so that reasonable representation takes place in power generating structures of society.

The policy of reservation has turned into an instrument of social tension. Bihar, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka have experi enced it. Two aspects of the policy of reserva tion need to be understood. First, that the scheme of reservation is a short-run devise on the road to social equality. The long-run equality can be achieved through restructuring economic system so that each one is entitled to a job and of good living. The short-run measure of reservation can help achieve the long-run goal. And second, that the criteria of reservation must correspond with the objectives of policy. Economic criteria can be justified only if the difference in the financial conditions generate social inequality. Since the objective is to bring social parity in power generating structures, non else than the criterion of caste should be adopted.