RESERVATION-QUOTA SYSTEM IS ANTI-DEMOCRATIC

The upper house of the Indian Parliament yesterday witnessed one of the worst kinds of hooliganism in its history. The Chairman of the House, the Vice-President of India, was physically attacked and stopped from presenting the Woman’s reservation Bill in the House, by a minuscule group of members. The unwillingness of the government to initiate strong preventive action against this belligerent minority prevented the much awaited presentation of the bill which will give 33 % representation for women in Parliament. The opposition to the bill by a minority pertains to quota within quota for back ward women!
Indian democracy is vitiated by the reservation or quota syndrome. In 1950s when India had just become independent, the constitution makers provided a small quota for the socially oppressed classes for a very restricted period; say 10 years, to help bring such people to the common level. Once granted, this became a stick in the hands of the political class to beat the majority of people. The extent and period of applicability of the ‘Reservation’ got enlarged year by year, and several constitutional amendments were done to institutionalize this undemocratic quota system. Now after 60 years of independence, the quota menace has grown to 60 to 80 % reservation for scheduled casts, tribes, backward classes, and minorities and that too on a near-permanent basis! Now politicians want quota within quota.

Any reservation or quota is a discrimination and so anti-democratic. While there is some justification for a limited amount of ‘positive discrimination’ to help economically weaker persons, how could anyone justify the continuation of a huge discrimination based on social backwardness, cast or religion even after 60 years of such discrimination? The vote-bank politics played by every politician in India is now creating havoc and disharmony in the society. New casts, new religions, and new minorities come –up every day demanding reservation for them. In fact, minorities now rule over the vast majority in India. Every project, appointment to government positions, and new initiative are in difference to minorities. Every political party in India tow this line of minority-pushing to get themselves elected.

I think it is high time we change our outlook and look at this hydra-headed monster-reservation & quota- as an enemy of equity, excellence, and progress. It is imperative that we must abolish all reservation-quota systems, and institute a limited ‘affirmative action’ to help needy individuals, but not for a class or group.

T K G Namboodhiri
March 9, 2010