Published: Friday, 5 February, 2016 11:00 AM
For politicians reservation still rules the roost
After the results for CAT, XAT, IIFT, SNAP, CMAT, MAT and NMAT are out, you will be invited for GD and it is must for you to practice with variety of GD topics.
Read and develop points for discussion on GD Burning topic: For politicians reservation still rules the roost
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Reservations were introduced in India with the aim of providing opportunities to the marginalised sections of the society, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backwards Castes, who had been bereft of opportunities to grow and hence remained cut off from the growth of the rest of the country. But like everything else in the country, reservations, too, have become a hotbed of political tussle. |
A. Reservations were aimed to be a short term arrangement to provide the chances to the backward castes they were deprived of and were left behind for socio-historical reasons. But politicians found it to be a tremendous opportunity to further their political ambitions and keep milking this sensitive issue for political gains.
B.India has seen a lot of bloodshed over the issue of reservations. The violence that ensued following the recommendations of the Mandal Commission which resulted in 49.5% quota in government jobs and public universities. This also polarised political parties and led to unexpected alliances, as leaders struggled to align party ideologies with caste affiliations and electoral politics.
C.I think the aim of reserving opportunities for backward people to bring them the benefits of the growth witnessed by the rest of the country was a good one. But, unfortunately, reservations ended by dividing the society further on the basis of castes and gave an opportunity to the political parties to indulge in votebank politics with caste being an important consideration. The recent elections in Bihar testify to the fact that caste politics is embedded in the politics of India. Some politicians have even begun to demand reservations on the basis of religion to satisfy their vote bank, something which the Constitution of India debars.
D. Reservations, however, do not meet the aspirations of the youth of the country who believe in merit and working hard towards their goals. The politics of reservations, of dividing the people is not in sync with the demands of the young generation. Today’s generation wants merit to be considered the sole criteria for education and jobs.
E. The politics over reservations continues unabashed in India. For instance, in Haryana, chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda set up a Haryana Backward Classes Commission , which recommended 10% special backward class quota for Jats, Jat Sikhs, Bishnois and Tyagis.Recently, Hardik Patel spearheaded an agitation for the inclusion of the Patidar caste in the Other Backward Class to qualify for reserved quotas in education and government jobs.
F. The benefits of reservations seldom reach the people it intends to benefit. The benefits of reservation is exploited by the creamy layer from the backward castes, who already have the resources. They do not let the benefits of reservation to trickle down to the people who actually need it. It also creates a divide and acrimony in the society, as people from the general category suffer for no fault of theirs.
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Political parties continue to play the reservation card and use communities as vote banks. The ghost of reservation, which has led to extreme blood bath, springs up every now and then, clearly incited by politicians. This will continue to harm national interests and create divisions among the citizens unless all political groups get together to find a solution to the issue of reservations. India of today, values merit and hard work and these should be the only criteria for growth. A solution needs to be devised of improving the condition of the backward classes, at the same time, not compromising with the interests of the nation. |
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