Get Deserved Not Reserved

What this article is about : My views on reservation ( Quota system ) - in any form


Reservation or the quota system as we know it is has very interesting definition on dictionary.com :
"the act of making an exception or qualification."

It seems making an exception is same as qualification :) . But actually , qualification here doesn't point to "ability" - but rather "the act of entering a system" . So Reservation would mean creating an exception to a general rule.


Why reservation :

The common reason that is given for any sort of reservation or quota system is that , since because of "some" reason the "X" category of people have not been able to come to par OR as still not able to come at par , there should be some relaxation in the criteria of selection - which other wise would a little too hard for them to qualify.

Different Kinds of reservation :

Some of the famous type that I can think of quickly are :

- For certain castes
- For a certain gender - Females and transgenders
- Against a certain gender - Females and transgenders
- For certain Religions
- For physically challenged
- Against physically challenged
- For dynasty of some sort - Grandchildren of Freedom Fighters
- For certain people - Politicians , members of parliament / assemblies
- For people who come from weak economic backgrounds


Hmm , that seems to leave very little of "normal" human beings


My view on Reservation :

While I am totally in favor of doing something special for people who because of some reasons cant qualify to participate in the race of life , I am very sure that it there where the buck should stop. Enable people to get to the race ground . Give them facilities , freedom and support . But once the race starts why should someone be put with head start , just because he/she is from a certain section.

Its like saying that we will let a idiot run a nuclear center just because he is from a certain section - no brainer to guess what will happen next . Its like saying we will have at least 3 players in cricket team because they are from a certain section - no problem is they can bat / bowl or field !!

I totally agree that its not a child's fault if he/she is born in a family which is economically weak or which is being harassed or suppressed because they are from a certain section of society. But to help the child , the right way would be to give him/her free education , methods to learn and grow . To enable in whatever way possible so that he/she is given a fair chance in the battle of life . The same chance that any other kid would have who is growing under the umbrella of a political family or a economically sound family .


Who should oppose reservation :

I think the first and the right set of people to oppose reservation should be the people who are eligible for getting reservation .

They don't realize ( may be they do ) , but in long term , reservation does more bad than good to them .

People tend to make opinions about them based on the quota system through which they passed exams , rather because of their abilities.

Imagine a candidate who is studying in IIT and is in Computer Science background and got that seat because his quota category rank was 5 , while his general category rank was 1500 .

Consider two cases :

A) He adopts CSC and uses his quota category
B) He take some other branch which will be awarded to anyone with 1500 rank ( civil maybe ).

In case (A) , throughout life the kid would have the complex that he adopted something from the backdoor. When people will congratulate him on being an IITian from CSC , he would give a wry smile because he knows what and how of the procedure that let him get that seat.

When companies will interview him , they will find out that he is just any other guy who hooked on to a "favor" rather going with what he "deserved". This will create a doubt in the minds that maybe he is just not good enough because he himself feels so.

In case (B) inspite of the fact that he could have taken a "favor" , he opted for what was worth his salt . Make no mistake , if there was a race between him and anyone else in the room for a position , he would beat everyone hands down on the criteria of credibility . He would score an extra cookie for believing in himself . An extra mark for not taking undue favor but respecting his own skills value.

My view on other kinds of reservation is the same .

Why should someone get a seat in parliement just because she is a women ? Is it scientifically proven that women are better admins than men or transgenders . If yes then please make it 100% because we want the best of abilities in the job.

In the race or women liberation we are somewhere forgetting that being women is not a qualification .

Same thing is true when there is any reservation against women . For example in army , navy and air force . I mean , is it scientifically proven that women are always physically weak then men or transgenders ? Did I hear a yes ? Can you please say the samething in face on Ms Malleshwari :) . Thanks .

Being a man is not a qualification , so lets not put it that way .

There are ceratin seats in buses , trains and planes reserved for Mr Politicians or all sorts . These seats are more often than not "sold" to other passengers or used by family or personal assistant's family .

When did becoming a politician become a criteria of getting a seat in a bus ?

Some seats are reserved for people who physically challeged . While , it will depend on what kind of work we are talking about , but all the jobs that require just sitting and using brain should not be qualfied based on the number of limbs one carries.

What makes you think that a person with no legs is a better coder than someone who has his both legs intact ?

I understand that life is tough anyways for them , but then please give methods to help them . Lower taxes to them . Given them allowances . Free books to study . Free education .

But please dont ruin someone's carrier because he/she is a normal human being from a stupid "general" category.


Its my message to all those people who use reservation in any form ( women ? OBCs ? SCs ? etc etc ) : Please be get what you deserve and not what is reserved .


Hope to read some red eyed , fiercy comments on this one !