This is a raging controversy in India today. I have read through a lot of articles/blogs on this issue ranging from ones that outrightly denounce the idea as well as those that appreciate the efforts of the UPA government to undo social differences in India.
I agree with the intent and the 'what' part of this issue - To bridge the gap between the haves and have-nots. What sane person (with a heart in place) would not want to have this as a national objective?
However, I disagree on the 'How' part of the strategy. In my opinion, all kinds of special interventions should be made at the upstream stage of human resource development. The hierarchy of interventions in human resource development starts from availability of money to spend on education/training. This is followed by available opportunities for admission. After passing out human development happens on the job with diverse experiences. If we look at the corresponding interventions that the government could make the obvious choices are: 1. Scholarships to solve the first issue, 2. Reservations in educational institutes and 3. Reservations in the public and private-sector.
A measurable benefit for scholarships is reflected in the number of poor students accessing education. Similarly, students from backward classes getting recruited by companies along with others reflects that the education helped them come at par with others in terms of social standing. If special benefits are provided at each of the 3 stages, how can we measure the contribution that these interventions make? Moreover, if special benefits are provided at stage 3, the benefits provided in the previous two stages become redundant.
However, by artificially forcing corporate to have a special recruitment policy for - by now - trained and 'not-so-backward' students is analogous to providing a personal-assistant to a handicapped person who has been trained to move independently on the wheel-chair. It is certainly noble, but does not lead to development in the real sense. The first two interventions become redundant as well.
After a person has the resources to study and a school which is willing to take him/her in, he should be fully equipped to take on the real world and further development from here on should be a responsibility of the individual. If faced with discrimination (despite his ability to perform) (s)he must have the courage and confidence to stand up. After all she has been trained to do this! What would be better for the development of a person at this stage of life - begging for more? .. Or standing up confidently with self-esteem?
The Indian Government provides for reservations in the public sector. Although I do not agree with this, however, extreme measures are required in a country with a history of caste based discrimination. Having said that there should be measurable goals and success criteria and time-frames for such special arrangements. Today, if a student from SC/ST/OBC category secures 90% + marks, he can walk into the better schools in town similar to others. No mainline tuition centers/coaching classes deny entree based on caste/religion. Things would perhaps be better later on... And hence, the need for special treatments would not exist. Policy makers need to define this timeline - and not extend it for political milieu.
Reservations in the private job-scene will definitely have a huge impact on performance. First, many hard-working people who did not have any special support for their education would end up frustrated. Second, the economic boom which has been engineered by the private sector (and not the Government) would slow down in general. Third, the service sector which now symbolizes the rise of Indian confidence and pride will be severely impacted because it is so dependent on human resources unlike the manufacturing industry which runs on economies of scale. Fourth, no matter what industry, organizations will change and become caste conscious. A person who is just identified by his name/designation today will be identified by his caste as well. Any organization operating amidst ever increasing competition would certainly avoid this situation.
I read a short article and found it touching: http://notanobserver.rediffiland.com//scripts/xanadu_diary_view.php?postId=1145297033
People thinking logically might converge on the same conclusion. However, does it fit-in with the self-centered plans of politicians and political parties? Frankly speaking - I don't think so! And I dont expect a main-stream political party to have the guts to raise the right questions on this.
