by Manish Anand
(This article appeared in The Hindu (www.thehindu.in) on 28 September 2004. It's put here as it still has relevance)
MANDAL COMES back to haunt the nation once again thanks to the politics of mediocrity. The UPA government has appointed a committee to talk with the corporate world about the modality of introducing reservation for the SCs, STs and the OBCs. The UPA government has also hinted at parliamentary intervention to effect its intention. The message goes loud and clear that the politics is in for a new low.
Ambedkar had reluctantly agreed for reservation just for ten years. The reason behind was the need for an effective empowerment of the weaker sections than going for "quick fix simplistic solutions". The Constitution gave the right to make "positive discrimination" in favour of the weaker sections of society to the government (Ar. 15(2)). But successive governments chose to feast on the politics of populism ignoring the aberrations.
Impact of reservation
The socio-psychological explanation has been that the disadvantaged sections of society need a helping hand to join the mainstream of society. At the same time, years of deprivation instil a sense of incompetence in the psyche of the disadvantaged people. Also, people need to identify with the immediate role model of their own community to act as motivator.
In the realm of public services, it is said that the people of the disadvantaged community are better equipped to empathise with the deprived sections of society and are likely to do better than others for the improvement of their lots.
The social impact of reservation policy has been highly divisive, spreading hatred and discord among people. The assumption that the benefits will percolate down the social strata has been belied, with the affluent classes pocketing them in a major way.
The concept of a creamy layer, applicable only for "other backward castes", has failed to serve any purpose. The culture of guilt that the reservation policy instils in the beneficiaries may also be contributing to the lack of efficiency as well as rampant corruption infecting the system. To instil a culture of pride, the "policies based on positives" complemented with a non-discriminatory procedure is required. And it is pride that keeps people committed and efficient, not otherwise.
Those who suffer because of the reservation policy exhibit "apathy and contempt" and do not identify with the system, contributing to less than the desired performance.
The corporate model
Ironically the initiator of "reform" in the economy with the twin principles of "efficiency and competition" is asking the corporate sector to compromise on the lifeline of the modern economy.
The corporate sector ruthlessly practises the principle of "perform or perish", and that has brought out the best among their employees propelling them to higher standards of excellence. Why should they let the petty politicians wreck their hard built culture of excellence? With the WTO regime around, does the government expect companies to compete tolerating substandard employees on their pay-roll?
Lack of initiative
In the last one decade, economic development has left much to be desired. Regional disparity has led to the compounding of socio-economic malaise, with utter neglect of human resource.
Schools and colleges are still wallowing in the obsolete traditional methodologies removed from the demands of the modern economy. The politicians of the States suffering from a "culture of poverty" find no answer to the unmanageable unemployment, leaving them to harp on the much milked reservation bogey to keep their vote bank intact.
The government and the community leaders had the option to impart the skills and competencies to enable the people to compete and excel with others. The special education scheme imparting traditional knowledge as well as vocational training with industry interface could have been an option to explore. The required socio-psychological support system could have filled the gap in the emotional level. The government chose the bureaucratic approach that distanced it from the needs.
The intervention at the elementary levels lacks the professional requirements. The end result has been a mismatch between the requirements and the provisions. And with failure looking deep into the eyes of the politicians, they find the easy way out to fall back on the policy of reservation.
The response
Industry has shown much enthusiasm in supporting and conserving the initiatives to develop and promote excellence, knowledge, and skills. They have made it clear that if there were sincere efforts in this regard, finance will be no problem at all. Will the polity rise to the occasion and respond to the demands of the people in an objective, imaginative and visionary manner?
(Copyright The Hindu, article in part or in full shall not be published by anyone without authorisation from The Hindu)
(This article appeared in The Hindu (www.thehindu.in) on 28 September 2004. It's put here as it still has relevance)
MANDAL COMES back to haunt the nation once again thanks to the politics of mediocrity. The UPA government has appointed a committee to talk with the corporate world about the modality of introducing reservation for the SCs, STs and the OBCs. The UPA government has also hinted at parliamentary intervention to effect its intention. The message goes loud and clear that the politics is in for a new low.
Ambedkar had reluctantly agreed for reservation just for ten years. The reason behind was the need for an effective empowerment of the weaker sections than going for "quick fix simplistic solutions". The Constitution gave the right to make "positive discrimination" in favour of the weaker sections of society to the government (Ar. 15(2)). But successive governments chose to feast on the politics of populism ignoring the aberrations.
Impact of reservation
The socio-psychological explanation has been that the disadvantaged sections of society need a helping hand to join the mainstream of society. At the same time, years of deprivation instil a sense of incompetence in the psyche of the disadvantaged people. Also, people need to identify with the immediate role model of their own community to act as motivator.
In the realm of public services, it is said that the people of the disadvantaged community are better equipped to empathise with the deprived sections of society and are likely to do better than others for the improvement of their lots.
The social impact of reservation policy has been highly divisive, spreading hatred and discord among people. The assumption that the benefits will percolate down the social strata has been belied, with the affluent classes pocketing them in a major way.
The concept of a creamy layer, applicable only for "other backward castes", has failed to serve any purpose. The culture of guilt that the reservation policy instils in the beneficiaries may also be contributing to the lack of efficiency as well as rampant corruption infecting the system. To instil a culture of pride, the "policies based on positives" complemented with a non-discriminatory procedure is required. And it is pride that keeps people committed and efficient, not otherwise.
Those who suffer because of the reservation policy exhibit "apathy and contempt" and do not identify with the system, contributing to less than the desired performance.
The corporate model
Ironically the initiator of "reform" in the economy with the twin principles of "efficiency and competition" is asking the corporate sector to compromise on the lifeline of the modern economy.
The corporate sector ruthlessly practises the principle of "perform or perish", and that has brought out the best among their employees propelling them to higher standards of excellence. Why should they let the petty politicians wreck their hard built culture of excellence? With the WTO regime around, does the government expect companies to compete tolerating substandard employees on their pay-roll?
Lack of initiative
In the last one decade, economic development has left much to be desired. Regional disparity has led to the compounding of socio-economic malaise, with utter neglect of human resource.
Schools and colleges are still wallowing in the obsolete traditional methodologies removed from the demands of the modern economy. The politicians of the States suffering from a "culture of poverty" find no answer to the unmanageable unemployment, leaving them to harp on the much milked reservation bogey to keep their vote bank intact.
The government and the community leaders had the option to impart the skills and competencies to enable the people to compete and excel with others. The special education scheme imparting traditional knowledge as well as vocational training with industry interface could have been an option to explore. The required socio-psychological support system could have filled the gap in the emotional level. The government chose the bureaucratic approach that distanced it from the needs.
The intervention at the elementary levels lacks the professional requirements. The end result has been a mismatch between the requirements and the provisions. And with failure looking deep into the eyes of the politicians, they find the easy way out to fall back on the policy of reservation.
The response
Industry has shown much enthusiasm in supporting and conserving the initiatives to develop and promote excellence, knowledge, and skills. They have made it clear that if there were sincere efforts in this regard, finance will be no problem at all. Will the polity rise to the occasion and respond to the demands of the people in an objective, imaginative and visionary manner?
(Copyright The Hindu, article in part or in full shall not be published by anyone without authorisation from The Hindu)
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