Reservation On Caste Sex Basis:

Many of the tasks in day to day life are performed by the index finger in much better ways. Every member in a society is useful and stronger members need to sacrifice under certain circumstances. Therefore, concessions cannot be ignored.

Question is whether reservations is the only concession to overcome this problem? Consider a child say just one year old. Can any one expect the child to start walking on roads, fields, valleys, mountains? Can it be expected that the child would cross a busy road without getting hurt? Even grown up person needs a 'Zebra crossing' to safely go across a busy road. Is it not a reservation for people on road? Definitely so. Even after providing zebra crossing people need training to use it safely. Police and traffic signals provide training and alerts. Therefore, reservations combined with training and alerts is the most desirable method to improve capabilities of persons who had been denied these earlier. When a child grows up and achieves necessary skill and standard, no more help is needed. Trained child is left to face challenges on his/her own. The same principle needs to be applied while considering reservations and training for weaker section of the society. Women are part of the weaker section of the society.

It was noticed till middle of 20th century that there used to be hardly any name of student from backward classes and girls in the merit list of SSC/HSC examinations. There has been substantial improvement now and many name do appear in the merit list now. This is true for girl students also. This clearly means their capabilities need development and encouragement through proper training. Even as on date training part remains neglected. Achievements of such students are mostly on their own. May be they are exposed to greater environment through media like TV, Radio, newspapers etc. Possibly through rigorous proper training results may improve much beyond expectations.

Although there is some improvement in education field, there is no improvement in harnessing their talent in development of the nation. It is impossible to find them taking responsibilities at higher levels of decision making. Rules and regulation do exist for promoting them. Concessions do exist on paper. Ground reality is entirely different. Efforts are noticed to get posts 'un-reserved' but no efforts are seen to train and improve their skills to make them eligible. Certain state Government upgraded 'Junior Executive' post to 'Group A' category with sole aim of denying reservations in promotion from 'Group B' to 'Group A'. This is just to show our skill in denying constitutional provisions in legal ways.

Truth is weaker sections of the society (Backward classes and Girls) must get an opportunity in every field of life. Those persons belonging to certain castes who have been denied right like education, employment, business etc. do need special consideration. Such persons firstly need to be offered basic education free of cost and later special encouragement like employment, training, advancement in career etc. Reservation is one of the aspects to bring such person to the advanced level of others. Training has the most important role to play. Although provision exists in constitution and Government rules for training, till date there is hardly any effort taken in Government and private sector to offer and implement necessary training to the weaker sections of the society. This is the primary reason why reservations have to continue and their sphere of application need to be enlarged.

Private sector is highly unified on the subject of reservation. Unanimously this sector has declared that reservations shall result in degradation, inefficiency and all that which is bad. Private sector has forgotten that till recently they were demanding (even now also) high import duties on certain goods so that their inferior products could be sold in local market. Even today, private sectors expects special facilities to open their activities in remote areas and almost all state governments oblige them. Is this not a reservation for private sector? Who can say this is not a case of reservation? Why this sector forgets the importance of reservations for achieving skills and capabilities? How can this sector refuge obligations?

Private sector does have a social responsibility and this sector must shoulder it. Perusal of the list of employees in any private organisation reveals that persons belonging to a particular religion or caste or region or a combination of some of these are in large majority in middle and higher levels of the organisation. What this means? Does it mean that no other person has similar or greater skills outside the set of people? or does it mean that the organisation enforces reservations under certain criteria? Every private organisation follows policy of reservations under certain criteria. Hence, persons of certain castes and women would never get an opportunity to prove their skills. Secondly in a race for climbing Everest persons near foot of Himalaya do have advantage over people near Kanyakumari. This type of competition is not among equals. However proper education and training wold result in getting every one near foot hills of Himalaya. Competition among persons of such a group can be justified. Private sector must undertake this responsibility and discharge it truthfully as it's social obligation.

Private sector should be encouraged by the Government through allotment of adequate land for starting residential primary, secondary and higher secondary schools. This schools should select students from backward classes and girls who have successfully completed primary education. Tehsil may be used as a unit for such selection. From the merit list annually minimum 25 male and 25 female students be chosen for giving essential education and training. Students so selected should be given highest quality education and training to ensure all their capabilities and skills are explored fully. Such a facility must be free of cost to the student including residence and meals. May be in the beginning some help would be required for development of their career but after some time they may not need further help in their career.

Philosophy behind reservations can be summarised as under:-

There is a strong objection for reservations for women in Loksabha/Rajyasabha/Vidhansabha/Vidhan Parishad from many of the political parties. In fact almost all parties are against such reservation. The basic reason appears to be reduction in seats for men. Same politicians are in front line to have many other reservations like 'reservation for minorities' This brings out the fact that politicians have only one aim i.e. to improve their vote bank. By implementing reservation for women their vote bank is not likely to improve. On the other hand women may not accept to work for their selfish motives. This has resulted in objections (open or hidden) from almost all men politicians.

Government found their administrative expenditure is considerably higher and hence a decision was taken during 1984 to reduce employee strength. A 10 % reduction was implemented. It was decided that the Government employees would be encouraged to resign their posts, vacant post would not be filled, and some other measures to achieve goal of reducing administrative expenditure. However, no politician suggested any reduction in strength of members of various democratic houses. On the other hand they are suggesting increase in numbers of peoples' representatives to accommodate reservations for women. Can any one explain this logic? This only shows limitations of our politicians and their selfishness.

In my opinion solution for reservation for women lies in hands of women. They should take strong opposition to increase in strength of any house. They should demand for reduction in strength to reduce administrative expenditure. They should remember Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma always professed 'Satyagraha', demand for truth. British had to give in because he always faught for truth. Now truth is women do need reservation. This has been accepted by politicians. They are against implementation as they fear this will reduce their chances to remain active in politics. Against this selfish motive of men women should adopt weapon of satyagraha. Women should organise meetings in the gates of their party headquarters. They should undertake fasts & dharana. They must explain correctly how this bill should be shaped. They must ensure the bill in final form is just and fair to various sections of women. If there are reservations in quota for men then there should be reservations in the quota for women too. It is a test for women politicians to get this bill passed. If they are successful in getting overall strength reduced, it will be the best gift for the nation.