Need for re-thinking on reservation policy

Witnessing the violence on large scale during every strike, bandh, dharna, protest and agitation for the demand of reservation in educational institutions and government job, it appears that the time has come for re-thinking and reviewing the reservation policy by the government of the day. The successive governments at the Centre have dared not give a re-look to reservation policy lest it loses the votes. Reservation should only be availed by the people, who are needy and the economically weak irrespective of their caste and region. Has any government ever made an appraisal of the reservation policy in the last 50 years? Whether this policy has been beneficial for the people for whom it has been formulated or not must be determined. At the time of introducing reservation for SC/ST, it was decided that its appraisal will be made every 10 years and after that it would be decided whether to continue it or not. But that did not happen only because of the politics of vote bank . Marathas in Maharashtra and Mumbai have been agitating for the demand of reservation in educational institutions and government jobs. They were considered to be the dominant section in society of Maharashtra. They had enough landed property and they were solvent. With the passing of time, they felt threatened by the people of backward community on the basis of their reservation in education and job. Backward people on the basis of education and job left Marathas behind in society. Feeling to be out of reckoning in Maharashtra, the Marathas resorted to agitation, which has also reportedly turned violent in different parts of the state, including Mumbai. On witnessing violence by the protesters, the agitation and bandh was reportedly called off. Every individual and group has fundamental right to stage dharna, protest and start agitation for their demand but at the same time no one has any right to take law into one’s hand or go on rampage. The agitation, protest, dharna and strike must be peaceful. Protesters cannot be allowed to create violence. Law must deal with law breakers stringently. As far as reservation is concerned, it must be given to only those who are economically weak. It must be given irrespective of caste, religion and creed. There must only be one criterion that is economic. Since the reservation in education and govt. job for OBC, SC/ST was introduced in the Constitution, it has never reached those who really need it in society. The benefits of reservation have only been availed by the rich people among the reservation categories. The poor among them s never availed the benefits of reservation. Mostly the poor among them could not receive education to get job in government. It has happened only because of poverty. So, the reservation should only have one criterion that is economic. Irrespective of caste, religion and creed, all those who are economically weak must be given reservation. It is no justification that the people belonging to upper caste cannot get reservation even if they are poor in society. Government of the day must call an all party meeting and work for developing consensus to give a re-look to the reservation policy. Otherwise, the violent agitation by the people of this and that community, caste will continue for reservation.