Initiative good, but intention suspect

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has taken personal initiative for building consensus on giving reservation in promotion in state government jobs to SC/STs. He has held an all-party meeting in this regard. Though at the meeting ruling UPA as well as all the opposition parties have shown their agreement to the reservation in promotion for SC/STs, the intention of all political parties is suspect. If that was not so, the issue of reservation would not been necessitated to be discussed after more than 6 decades of the Constitution coming into force. Reservation is necessary for those Indian citizens who are economically weak to compete with economically well-off sections of society. But it does not mean that merit should be thrown back and only economic and socially backwardness should be given priority. It is utmost necessary in India to set-up a high-powered committee to review the policy of reservation which was introduced in our country since the Constitution came into effect. It was incorporated in the constitution in right earnest to bring the SC/STs on equal footing with people of other castes, including upper caste, though in later years in 90s reservation for Other Backward Castes(OBCs) in government jobs and educational institutions was also incorporated in Constitution through amendments. In all, 50 percent quota went to the reserved categories and the rest remain for general categories. But neither the purpose of reservation nor the intent of it has been achieved so far. The weak became weaker and the strong became stronger all the way since Independence. The advantage of reservation has been taken of by the well-off section among the reserved categories of socially and economically backward sections. The weaker among them remained weak and were deprived of the advantage of reservation by none other than their own reserved category people who are strong. This is the ground reality which no successive governments have accepted and all have tried to use the reservation policy as a tool for creating their vote bank. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has rightly held an all party meet on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled tribes’ reservation in promotions in state jobs and sought suggestions from political parties to arrive at legally sustainable solution. But to get the real benefit from reservation, there requires to be good-intentioned approach especially by the political parties in power, which is lacking. It is commendable that Prime Minister has said that his govt is committed to protect the interests of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. The Supreme Court had in April overruled the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to provide reservations in government job promotions. The BSP, which was then in government, had raised the issue in the budget session of Parliament demanding a constitutional amendment to provide for such quotas.