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 !
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Perhaps our country only can boast of 'revolutionary' concepts like 'Reservation' (thanks to Green belts and orange belts and blue belts and red belts in the Indian "Poly Ticks"). I really find it hard to understand, how can an individual take pride in calling himself (and indirectly his forefathers, caste or community) as 'backward' ( or 'deprived') and therefore stake claim in the system.
ReplyDeleteAsheesh
India is claimed to be a republic country i.e. same rule to all(irrespective of any such classification).But it has changed to class-public country.
ReplyDeleterather than looking people on the same stick-yard, we see different stick-yard for different class of people(caste,religion,gender etc) although I am for women liberization.but this doesn't mean that we should make such bill like we did for the reservation of OBC,muslims etc etc.Instead,our political parties which are 100% male-dominated could have been instrumental while sending more no of Women MPs to the Parliament!
My question is,even after 60+yrs of independence what is the basis of practicing all such things?Does that mean that we are not
even independent now?We need to survive as people belonging to some quota rather than being common Indian Man(legacy of Divide and Conquer rule!).