65th Republic Day of India: Do we still need reservations?

As we near the end of the 64th year as a republic, on the 26th of January, my mind wanders to one of the most disputed topics and ideas in Indian history — reservations. A provision to benefit those, who had been suppressed for centuries prior to our independence i.e. the scheduled caste and tribes, as well as women; to uplift them and bring them up to par with the rest.

Our revolutionary forefathers did not bear in mind the future exploitation of the very arrangement that was supposed to bring impartiality and equality in society. Sadly, reservations today are often utilised by those who are not in need of them; those who can afford to apply through the general category.

In order to prevent this exploitation in the case of Other Backward Classes, the Indian government introduced the concept of the 'creamy layer', where citizens coming under the OBC category, but with an income of above Rs. 4.5 lakh, are not allowed the privileges. Sadly the same has not been implemented in cases of the other reservations.

This practice goes against the very basis of establishing the provision of reservations. Perhaps the Drafting committee had foreseen this; Article 334 of the Indian Constitution clearly stipulated that reservations from SC and STs as well as Anglo-Indians were to cease 20 years post 1950.

This law was amended multiple times, until the 79th amendment where 'fifty years' was changed to 'sixty years', lasting to the year 2010. Even now, a bill has to be approved by the Rajya Sabha for additional 10 years.

So what went wrong?

Has Indian society failed to progress or have the people in the reserved category become accustomed to their privileges?

Do politicians in this country see the reserved category as a vote bank?

The gap between the castes still remains even post countless measures taken to remove them. Reservations do have the power to uplift people; the concept is not flawed. What is flawed is the governance and the implementation of this provision.

But as the gap remains, the fraternity between our people decreases; due to to reservations. Every time a deserving general category candidate gets passed over due to reservations, the feeling of brotherhood in this nation decreases. So perhaps reservations is not the need of hour. The concept has no value if it cannot work in the context of India.

Perhaps the need of the hour is encouragement and incentives. The need to resolve this situation and look at other options has increased, and the need for it starts at the very base. For growth of the economy, one of the most important aspects is the quality of entrepreneurs in a country which is why merit-based admissions are critical at this point in time; our society and economy cannot progress without it.

The downtrodden need to be uplifted; this fact is undisputable. However, the scheme of reservation has failed to work in the last 60 years; what makes us think it will work now?

How can it work in the modern India, where greed and corruption are at their peak?

We desperately need to look at other avenues, for with the present state of affairs, we cannot grow as a society, as an economy, and most importantly, as a country.

What are your views on reservations? Share them below.

Unnati Ghia is a student and member of dna's shadow editorial board