Caste-based Reservation system in India: Concept, History, Advantages and Disadvantages

Concept:

Caste-based Reservation policy in India

Caste-based reservation system is well known in India. In recent years, there have been considerable debates over the issue "caste-based reservation system" in several times and several platforms. Caste-based reservation means - to reserve seats for special groups of people on the basis of caste to provide with some special benefits for them. Schedule Castes (ST), Schedule Tribes (ST), Other backward class and in some states backward classes among Muslims called BC(M) are primary beneficiaries of the reservation policies under the constitution of India. In simple term, it is a system by which oppressed castes of India are sought to protect from caste-based discrimination. Under this system, lower-caste people in India have some reserved seats for them on several grounds like- Employment, Educational institutions, Scholarships, Promotions, Political representations etc. It is governed by the Constitutional laws, statutory laws and local rules and regulations. But now question remains - whether Caste-based reservation is sufficient for up-gradation of lower caste people and to remove caste-discrimination from the society? Or whether income-based reservation is better option for the same? 

History of caste-based reservation system in India:

Caste-based reservation system in India has a very long history. According to some ancient texts, books and literature caste-based reservation system in India started in 2nd century B.C where upper class people enjoyed some additional privileges. According to the ancient literature, Indian society was classified into 4 varnas. These are mentioned below-

• The Brahmin: Priests, Scholars and Teachers were included under this category.
• The Kshatriyas: Rulers, Warriors and Administrator were under this category.
• The Vaishyas: It included merchants.
• The Shudras: It was the lowest amongst all which included Labourers and service providers.                                                                                                                              

This classification was also one kind of reservations where Brahmin, Kshatriyas and Shudras enjoyed some added privileges and Shudras were denied almost everything. This leads to castism in the society which is now very deep in the roots of present day caste-based reservation system in India. 

In modern India a caste-based reservation was originally admired by William Wilson Hunter and Jyotirao Govindrao Phule popularly known as Jyotiba Phule in 1882. The idea of reservation for backward classes was first raised by Jyotiba Phule in his statement to the Hunter Commission set up by the British Government during the viceroy ship of Lord Ripon to inquire into the status of primary and secondary education in India. Chhatrapati Shahuji greatly inspired by Jyotiba Phule as a form of caste-based reservation was implemented by him in 1901.

However, in the true sense the reservation system that exists today was introduced in 1932 when the prime minister of England Ramsay MacDonald presented "Communal award". In August, 1932 British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald announced a scheme of representation of minorities which came to be known as "Communal award". The award not only continued the separate electorates for the Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians and Europeans but also extended it to the depressed classes also. This system was opposed by Mahatma Gandhi who under took fast unto death Yeravada jail (Poona). But, many minorities leader and leader like- B.R Ambedkar supported this award. At last, after long negotiations there was an agreement between the leaders of Indian National congress and depressed classes. This agreement is known as "Poona pact" which retained Hindu joint electorate and gave reserved seats to the depressed classes.

After independence of India there were some major changes in favour of STs (Schedule Tribes), SCs (Scheduled Castes) and OBCs (Other Backward Classes). One of the most important changes occurred in 1979 when Mandal commission was established under the prime minister ship of Late Moraji Desai to assess the situation of various socially, economically and educationally backward castes and classes. But it was not happened until 1990s that recommendations of Mandal commission was implemented in government jobs.

Advantages of Caste-based reservation system:

If we see the current situation in India, advantage of caste-based reservation is very less as compared to disadvantage. However, some major advantages are briefly described below -

• As a mechanism to promote Backward classes: The greatest advantage of the caste-based reservation is that it helps in promoting backward classes within the society and the country. From ancient time, lower caste people have been being discriminating by the upper caste people. There were strong restrictions among the upper caste people in physically touching them as they were considered untouchables. So, they are unable to get a good job and reputation in the society due their caste. But, after the long years Reservation policy has become as a mechanism to help backward classes in this regard.
• Providing monetary benefit: Another important advantage of the Indian reservation policy is that it provides substantial concession to the people of backward classes in paying fees when applying for job, college admissions etc. The people of the backward classes from low income family find difficulty in paying these fees due to their economic reason. As a result of this, many of the deserving students fell into depression being unable to pay huge fees to take admission in colleges and for higher studies. But, the move of monetary benefit under the reservation policy of the Government of India has made good fortune for backward class people. 
• As a step to remove social and economic disparities: By providing government jobs through the quota system under the reservation policy economic disparities or income gap are reduced between rich and poor backward classes. By this quota system, reservation policy ensures that people from backward classes also can do government jobs and earn a respectable salary which in turn helps them to uplift their social status also. Thus, it boosts social and economic status of the backward classes.

Disadvantages of Caste-based reservation system:

There are also several disadvantages of Caste-based reservation in India. Its cons cannot be ignored by anyone even if it was framed with the aim of betterment of backward classes. Its major disadvantages are -

• Segregation of society: India is a secular country and for endurance of this principle Uniformity is must. But, the Caste-based reservation segregates the Indian society into different groups which divides the society into Hindu, Muslim, ST, SC, OBC, MOBC etc. Partitioning the society based on the castes and religion has not given any benefit to the country but only arises some issues in the society.
• Caste-based reservation is not economic based: Caste-based reservation prevailed in India is not economic based which impedes it's prime motive. The reservation system can be considered great one if it would have implemented taking into account of socio-economic determinants of the citizens. Having a caste certificate of a person is not sole criteria for ascertaining whether he is backward or not. Are all persons of scheduled Castes backward? Are all persons of scheduled Tribes poor? It is noted that if there had been economic based reservation, all individuals who are poor would have gotten reservation regardless their castes.  Determinants such as - poverty, occupation, place of habitation, family income etc. may all be relevant factors to be taken into consideration for granting reservation to individuals.
• Dishearten the other category people: The biggest disadvantage of Indian caste-based reservation system is that it is applied to competitive examinations and College admissions also. It selects the candidates on the basis of caste bur not on merit. So, people from reserved category easily get their seats of their choice even securing less mark. It discourages the people from general category who fail to accomplish their dreams in spite of doing hard work every day. It disheartens many talented candidates from general category. When poor people from general category who worked really hard cannot clear the exam in spite of scoring good marks, they become depressed and sometimes they even commit suicide. From these cases, it is clear that in India, reservation gives precedence to castes rather than merit.
• Degradation of quality of workforce: Due to reservation system people from reserved categories don't wish to work hard; because they know that they will get the seat anyway under quota. This type of workforces can never service the nation effectively. It degrades the quality of workforce and hinders overall growth of a country. 
• Used for political benefits: Another important thing is that sometimes, politicians use it as a instrument for winning more votes in elections. They divide general public into several sections by the weapon of reservation policy. Owing to the reservation system, politicians get the opportunity to play with the feelings of common people by utilizing it for making their vote-banks instead of using for advancement of general population of the country.

Reservation system was initiated by the constituent assembly of India for the purpose of uplifting lower caste people. They thought that lower caste people would go forward as same as upper caste people with the help of Reservation system. But now, time has changed. It has been always being misused by the politician over the times. So, It is time for review and amendment is needed in this policy for betterment of the nation as a whole.