Rethinking Reservations

India's reservation system has long been a contentious issue. It was first put in place to help underprivileged groups, especially the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC), by guaranteeing them access to government employment, education, and other opportunities that had previously been closed off to them. Although social and economic justice was the system's stated goal, its efficacy and fairness have recently been questioned.

The reservation system promises seats to those of a particular caste even at low cut-offs merely based on their surnames.

The reservation system's frequent caste-based determinations, especially when viewed through surnames, are an increasing source of worry and raise serious concerns about its long-term viability. In light of this, it's critical to evaluate whether caste-based reservations are still the most effective way to alleviate India's long-standing disparities or whether wealth-based reservations will better serve marginalized people of all castes.

Following independence, India implemented the quota system to address the inequities that the lowest castes in the caste-based social order had to endure. It was intended to provide them preferred treatment in political representation, work, and education as a kind of affirmative action. It has been broadened throughout the years to include additional groups, such as OBCs, resulting in a system that provides quotas for different categories. Millions of underprivileged people have benefited from these policies, although the system is frequently criticized for its shortcomings

The caste-based reservation system is frequently criticized for not being in line with the realities of poverty and disadvantage in modern-day India. After overcoming socioeconomic obstacles, members of historically oppressed castes frequently no longer encounter the same obstacles to access that their predecessors did. However, because they do not fall under a specified restricted category, those from upper-caste backgrounds who have fallen into economic hardship may not be eligible for benefits. People from wealthy families may benefit from reservations while those from marginalized backgrounds within the "upper castes" continue to face hardships due to the presumption that everyone with a particular caste identity is disadvantaged simply because of their last name. This only demonstrates the reversal of India's previous caste system.

Compared to when the reservation system was first implemented, the situation in India today is far more complicated. Caste barriers are frequently crossed by wealth differences. Many members of upper-caste societies are economically disadvantaged and lack the financial and social capital necessary to compete for high-paying employment or admission to famous universities. Similar to this, certain members of historically underrepresented castes may have financial success for a variety of reasons, including successful business ventures, government programs, or access to education.

Caste barriers are frequently crossed by wealth differences.

Regardless of caste, a wealth-based reservation system would prioritize people's economic standing and work to assist those who are genuinely underprivileged. This strategy would tackle poverty, the underlying cause of many social injustices, without the complications and abuse potential that come with a caste-based system. A wealth-based system would take into account the socioeconomic circumstances of each person's life rather than presuming that members of a particular caste are inherently disadvantaged.

The "accident of birth" in a family of a specific caste is not taken into account when the reservation system is based on a person's last name. For instance, a well-to-do Dalit from a metropolitan area might be capable of affording private tutions to develop skills needed to crack university entrance or job exams and still get selected at a much lower cut off than a Brahmin who is lesser privileged than him and probably was not able to afford private tutions. The system does not remain an equitable one in such a scenario denying opportunity to people merely based on their surnames.

The "accident of birth" in a family of a specific case is not taken into account when the reservation system is based on a person's last name.

A change to reservations based on wealth might make resource distribution more fair. For instance, regardless of caste, those from households earning less than a specific amount each year could be eligible for reservations. This will ensure that everyone who needs support gets it, eliminate the shame attached to caste-based identification, and directly address the growing concerns about inequity. Additionally, it would guarantee that Dalits holding respectable designations are appreciated for being on the same level as everyone else and are not just seen as "quota job-holders."

In order to successfully execute wealth-based reservations, India would have to set up a transparent and unambiguous procedure for determining who is economically disadvantaged. To decide who is eligible for reservations, the government might implement a new set of standards based on income levels, spending, and other financial considerations. As economic circumstances evolve, these standards could be modified over time to keep the system responsive to populace demands.

Students from lower-income households, for example, can receive preferential treatment in educational institutions in the form of scholarships, fee reductions, or reserved places in competitive exams. In a similar vein, reservations for government employment might be made available to people from low-income households, irrespective of caste, guaranteeing that financial difficulty is a significant criterion in establishing eligibility for affirmative action.

Although there are strong arguments in favor of wealth-based reservations, we also need to recognize that caste still has a big influence on people's lives, especially in rural areas. Despite the fact that some Dalit, OBC, and ST people have achieved economic success, caste-based discrimination is still common in many Indian regions, and people continue to experience violence or social exclusion due to their caste. For them, the existing reservation system is all the allowance they can get from the oppressive system.

Despite the fact that some Dalit, OBC, and ST people have achieved economic success, caste-based discrimination is still common in many Indian regions.

Caste-based reservations and wealth-based standards could be combined in a more nuanced manner. For instance, a system may be created in which caste-based reservations continue to exist as an additional measure to account for social exclusion, but wealth-based reservations are given precedence. This would guarantee that when resolving disparities in access to education and employment, social and economic variables are taken into account.

Rethinking the reservation system and how it fits with modern reality is essential as India develops and struggles with social justice challenges. The current strategy has shortcomings, especially in light of the growing significance of wealth and class in determining one's life prospects, even though caste-based reservations have significantly improved access to opportunities for excluded groups. In the end, the disparities that still exist in India might be better addressed by a careful, inclusive, and changing approach to reservations—one that uses wealth and caste as criteria—ensuring that everyone, regardless of origin, has an equal shot to achieve.

About the Author

I am Sanchari Mukherjee, a student doing a Master's in English from the reputed Presidency University, Calcutta. I love writing and appreciate art in all forms. Being a literature major, I have learned to critically comment on situations and contexts of various kinds. I have always believed that the current reservation system requires significant reform. Through my own experiences, I’ve come to feel that the existing system, while intended to support marginalized groups, often ends up perpetuating biases against Dalits and does not adequately reflect the economic realities of today’s world. I believe that a shift toward a wealth-based reservation system would be a fairer approach, one that addresses socio-economic disparities more effectively. Glad that you came across my blog, I hope you found it informative!