There have been many articles written either opposing or supporting the reservation system for SC, ST, OBCs, EWS and Women. All articles have their own merits.

In this article, we will discuss the below points and mainly focus on reservation for SC, ST and OBCs:

  1. Why the reservation system was introduced?
  2. How far reservation system been effective in achieving the goals it was created for?
  3. How it can be further reformed to strengthen the Hindu society?

First, why the system was brought in the first place?

The Article 334, Article 16(4), 16(4A), 16(4B) and 16(6) speak about reservation. Article 334 specifies the duration for which the reservations will exist. It was originally 10 years after the enactment of the constitution, but is extended after every 10 years and is now till 2030.

India had and still has a rigid caste system. The inter-caste marriages even today are rare. This created strong boundaries within the Hindu society. It is also a fact the lower castes were less educated, their awareness was low. And that too in the jobs in private and Govt sector, the representation of lower castes were low.

Due to this reasons, the founding fathers made provision of reservation in education and Govt jobs.

How far the reservation system been effective?

The reservation has served the purpose to certain extent. Due to reservation, we see many Dalits, STs etc. in plum positions. There are Dalit entrepreneurs. The founder of Hindustan Computers Ltd(HCL), Shiv Nadar, is a Dalit.

But the current system of reservation has created another problem. For e.g., a Dalit becomes socially and economically emancipated, his/her children don’t need further reservation. BUT, by giving reservations to children of Dalits who are already emancipated, the real deprived Dalits are remaining backward.

The current reservation system doesn’t strike at the root of the problem i.e. hereditary casteism. Had the caste system not been hereditary, there would have been no need of any reservation at all.

What should be done?

  1. First, limit the benefits of reservation to may be 3 generations. 3 generations are enough to socially emancipate a family and let other backward families avail the benefits of reservation. A lineage cannot infinitely keep getting the benefits of reservation.
  2. Use reservation a tool to encourage inter-caste marriages. For e.g., Scheduled Castes get 15% reservation. Within this quota, reserve half of the posts, promotions for all castes who marry a SC girl or boy. Say if a Brahmin/Vaishya boy/girl if marries a SC girl/boy, then (s)he will be eligible for all reservation benefits and his/her children also. Such a system will break the genetic and blood boundaries which has divided Hindus so far and create a homogenous and united Hindu society.
  3. Eventually provide reservations only to those Hindus who marry SC/ST/OBC etc. and their children born of the inter-caste marriage. Once inter-caste marriages become the norm, Hindu society will be united, and all fragmentation/genetic boundaries will vanish.

Among other benefits, this system will destroy the aspirations of political leaders who come to power by consolidating the Muslim votes and voters from 1-2 castes of Hindus.

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