Tuesday 15 October 2019
Monday 23 September 2019
Thursday 19 September 2019
Monday 16 September 2019
Dr. Ambedkar: A Brave Fighter - Lord Mountbatten
Dr.
Ambedkar: A Brave Fighter
-
Lord Mountbatten
I became interested in
Dr. Ambedkar in 1943 when I was appointed Supreme Allied Commander, South East
Asia, and setup my operational Headquarters in Delhi. He was the Labour Member
of Viceroy’s Council. He was fighting for Liberty, Equality and Fraternity and
fair conditions of life. He clearly understood that this new order could never
be established if the Nazis and the Fascists won the war, he and the Indian
Labour had been actively cooperating in the prosecution of the war.
At a time when so many
Indian leaders opposed war, the knowledge of his support was greatly heartening
to me, since India was my base and a million Indian Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen
were fighting under my control in Burma.
When I became the last
Viceroy of India in March 1947 I had extremely interesting and valuable talks
with him, and strongly backed my Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru’s proposal to appoint him as Minister for Law
in the first Independent Cabinet.
I was even more pleased
to agree to his appointment as Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee,
and watched with admiration the very efficient way in which he piloted the new
constitution of India through the Constituent Assembly. That was a magnificent
achievement.
But his continuous
championing of the Untouchable Scheduled Castes is what remains the strongest
in my mind. At the time of the transfer of power there were sixty millions of
them, far more than the population of the British Isles. Babasaheb, as they
affectionately called their leader, had personal experience of the fearful
disabilities under which his people suffered. He stood up for them against all
opponents. He disagreed violently with Mahatma Gandhi’s solution for their
representation in the Assembly in the Poona Pact which he felt tied them to the
Congress Party. He had the courage, and it required tremendous courage in the
climate of India, to stand up to him.
All in all, it was a
refreshing experience to know this clear seeing brave fighter who has an
immortal niche in the history of India .
(Extracted from Bheem
Patrika, edited by Bhagwan Das, Vol 3, No. 21, July 1974.)
Sunday 15 September 2019
Dr. Ambedkar’s Contribution to Water Resources Development
Dr. Ambedkar’s Contribution
to Water Resources Development
CHAPTER 1
THE MAN AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS
National
Reconstruction
The first quarter of
the present century brought forth an impressive crop of eminent personages who
contributed tremendously to the making of modern India. Dr. Bhimrao Ramji
Ambedkar (1891-1956) among them merits a special place. By
sheer dint of industry and perseverance, he rose to the eminence of a great
scholar, statesman, and the main architect of the nation's Constitution and
above all, the leader of the oppressed. In many respects, he stood apart from
his eminent contemporaries. He combined in himself the distinction of being a
great scholar, social revolutionary and statesman, a combination that is rarely
come across. An intellectual giant and a prolific writer, he had imbibed
knowledge that was truly encyclopaedic. His erudition and experience covered such
diverse fields as law, constitution, economics, sociology, politics, and
comparative religion. His range of topics, width of vision, depth of analysis,
rationality of outlook and essential humanity of argument marked him out as a
man of destiny. Ambedkar hardly ever
wrote for literacy fame1. Rather, in his scholarly
pursuits as in his political
1 See Appendix 1.1 for a
list of Ambedkar's wiriting. See, for complete writings in English of Dr.
Ambedkar, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar: Writings and Speeches, Vasant Moon (ed.) Vol.
I (1979), Vol. II (1982), Vol. III(1987), Vol. IV (1988), Vol. V (1989), Vol. VI (1989), Vol. VII(1990), Vol. VIII (1990), Vol. IX (1990), Vol. X (1991), Vol. XI (1992). Bombay: Education Department, Government of Maharashtra.
2
AMBEDKAR´S CONTRIBUTION TO WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT
activities, he was
driven by a desire to understand the vital issues of his times and to find
solutions to the problems troubling the people. With this motivation, he helped
decisively in shaping the social, economic and political development of the
nation during a crucial period of its history. There was hardly any issue which
arose between the early 1920s and the mid1950s
to which Ambedkar did not apply his razor sharp analysis, whether it was the
problem of minorities, reorganisation of states, partition, or the political
and economic framework for an independent India.2 He did
not rest content with making scholarly expositions on these issues. He attended
to the problems if they came within his authority; where they did not, he
helped those in authority to find appropriate solutions. Most memorable of
Ambedkar's contributions, of course, was his intellectual contribution to the
making of the Indian Constitution, his social and political efforts for the
uplift of the socially deprived classes and his revival of Buddhism. Close to
his heart was the cause of the downtrodden, to which he devoted much of his
academic and political efforts since 1917.3 It goes to his
eternal credit that he was successful in placing this “invisible” segment of
Hindu society on the social and political map of India. Ambedkar articulated
their problems, brought about a deserved recognition of these problems, and
2 See "States and Minorities" (1947), "Communal Deadlock and the Way to solve it" (1945), "Evidence before the Southborough Committee on
Franchise" (1919), in Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar:
Writings And Speeches, op. cit., Vol. 1, 1979.
3 Among Ambedkar's writings on
the problem of caste are: (a) "Castes in India: Their Genesis, Mechanism
and Development" (1917), (b) "Annihilation of
Castes" (1935), (c) "The Untouchables: Who are
they and why they Become Untouchable” (1948), (d)
"Who were the Shudras? How they Became the Fourth Varna in Indo-Aryan
Society" (1946), in ibid., Vols. I, V and VII.
THE MAN AND HIS
CONTRIBUTIONS 3
was successful in
providing safe-guards in the Constitution and in the legal system of India
against social and economic discrimination. With untiring zeal, he generated
among the depressed classes an intense awakening about their rights. He left
behind him a legacy of an apparatus of social, religious and political
organisations, a network of educational institutions, a revived Buddhist
religion, and an ideology supported by a prodigious literary output which forms
an enduring base for the perennial awakening of the masses in India for years
to come.4 In the area of Constitution making, Ambedkar was
involved in all the deliberations, even preceding the Montagu-Chelmsford
Reforms of 1919. Prior to these reforms, a Franchise
Committee was appointed under the Chairmanship of Lord Southborough to deal
with the issue of franchise. Ambedkar, who gave extensive evidence before this
committee, argued forcefully for political representation for depressed classes
on the basis of population. The committee recognized representation to the
depressed classes by nomination, though to a lesser extent than Ambedkar had
envisaged. Ambedkar also presented a printed memorandum to the Indian Statutory
Commission under the Chairmanship of Sir John Simon in May 1928,
which revised the Government of India Act of 1919. He also
played a crucial role in the Round Table Conferences which were convened in
London in the 1930s to frame a Constitution for India, and
served on the Minority sub-committee, the Provincial sub-committee and the
Service subcommittee. In a scheme of political safeguards for depressed classes
in a self-governing India that he submitted to the Minority sub-committee, he
argued for common citizenship, free use of rights, and adequate representation
in legislation and
4
Eleanor Zelliot (1992), From Untouchable to Dalit,
Delhi: Manohar, pp. 54-78.
4
AMBEDKAR´S CONTRIBUTION TO WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT
government services to
the depressed classes. The emergence of the depressed classes as a force to
reckon with in the political map of India was mainly the achievement of
Ambedkar's eloquence in the Round Table Conferences in the 1930s.5 When a Constitutent Assembly was to be constituted to frame
the Constitution of India, Ambedkar submitted a memorandum to it, entitled
"State and Minorities,”6 probably the only person to
have done so. The memorandum outlined his view on the form of the envisaged
Constitution and it was much more than a charter of provisions for minorities
in the country's constitution. On account of his profound knowledge of constitutional
matters, Ambedkar was appointed a member of the drafting committee of the
Constituent Assembly and finally its Chairman, a trust that he vindicated in
full measure. Working with incredible speed and energy, he almost
single-handedly produced the draft within two years of the first meeting of the
Constituent Assembly, and a little over a year later, the final Constitution.
Recalling his contribution to this stupendous achievement, T.T. Krishnamachari,
who was a member of the Drafting Committee, said in the Constituent Assembly on
November 5, 1948:
The House is perhaps
aware that of the seven members nominated by you one resigned from the house
and was replaced. One died and was not replaced. One was away in America and
his place was not filled up and another person was engaged in state affairs and
there was void to the extent. One or two people were far away from Delhi and
perhaps reason of health did not permit them to attend. So it happened
5 See W.N. Kuber (1991),
Ambedkar: A Critical Study, New Delhi: People's Publishing House. 6 Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (1947), State and Minorities, Bombay: Thacker & Co.
THE MAN AND HIS
CONTRIBUTIONS 5
ultimately that the
burden of drafting the Constitution fell on Dr. Ambedkar and I have no
hesitation in saying that we are grateful to him for having achieved this task
in a manner which is undoubtedly commendable.7
Pylee writes:
Ambedkar brought to
bear on his task a vast area of qualities, erudition, scholarship, imagination,
logic and eloquence and experience. Whenever he spoke in the house usually to
reply to the criticisms advanced against provisions of Draft Constitution there
emerged a clear and lucid exposition of provisions of the Constitution. As he
sat down, the mist of doubts vanished as also the clouds of confusion and
vagueness. Indeed, he was a modern Manu and deserves to be called the Father or
the Chief Architect of the Constitution of India.8
In his concluding
speech Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the President of the Constituent Assembly
said:
Sitting in the chair
and watching the proceedings from day to day, I have realised as nobody else
could have, with what zeal and devotion the members of the Drafting Committee
and especially its Chairman Dr. Ambedkar, in spite of his indifferent health
have worked. We would have never made a decision which was or could be ever so
right as when we put him on the Drafting Committee and made him its Chairman.
He has not only justified his selection but has added lustre to the work which
he has done.
Among the more
noteworthy of Ambedkar's contibutions are his views on the reorganisation of
states, which posed considerable difficulty to the Constituent Assembly. He
dealt with the issue in its
7 Dananjay Keer (1954),
Dr. Ambedkar: Life and Mission, Bombay: Popular Prakashan. 8 Kuber, op.cit.,147-8.
6
AMBEDKAR´S CONTRIBUTION TO WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT
entirety in
"Thoughts on Linguistic States", in which he stated his position. 9 His views were new and differed from those of the State
Reorganisation Commission. According to him, "the one state, one language
theory may be put up by any two ways: (1) one state, one
language or (2) one language, many states." While in
principle he agreed that language should form the base for the creation of
states, since a linguistic province produces what democracy needs, namely
social homogeneity, and makes democracy work better than it would in a mixed province,
he favoured the second option of people speaking one language organised into
many states, his preference being for small states.10 He
laid down five principles for the formation of the individual states: (a)
efficient administration, (b) needs of the different areas, (c) Sentiments of
different areas, (d) proportion between the majority and minority, and (e) the
size of the state. Regarding religious minorities, an issue which was uppermost
in the minds of many at that time, Ambedkar expressed his views in a book
titled Thoughts on Pakistan, which was a provocative and helpful analysis of
the basis of nationalism.11
Water Policy and
Planning
No less important, but
less well known among Ambedkar's contributions to the nation are his direct
participation and role in the formulation of certain development policies and
planning. At least on two occasions, Ambedkar was directly involved in policy making:
once as Law Minister in the Central Cabinet of independent India during 1947-51 and, earlier, as
9 See Ambedkar's “Thoughts on Linguistic
States” (1955), “Maharashtra as a Linguistic Province” (1954), "Need for Check and Balance" (1953)
in Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar:
Writings and Speeches, Vol. I, op. cit. 10 Kuber, op.cit. 234. 11 "Dr. B.R. Ambedkar: Thoughts on
Pakistan" First Edition (1940), Pakistan or the
Partition of India, Bombay: Thacker (1946), third edition.
THE MAN AND HIS
CONTRIBUTIONS 7
a member of the
Viceroy's Executive Council, in charge of the Labour, Irrigation and Power
portfolio during 1942-46. Though he made a substantial
contribution to the nation's development in this position, surprisingly, this
aspect of his life has hardly been studied.12 An
Independent Department of Labour had been created in November 1937,
the Department of Industry, which was a part of a combined Department of
Industry and Labour, going to the Commerce Department. Subjects like
"irrigation", "electricity" and others related to public
works were also transferred to the newly created Department of Labour. The
policy formulation and planning for the development of "irrigation and
electric power" including "hydro-electric power" thus became the
major concern of the labour portfolio in July 1942.13 The
early 1940s, when Ambedkar took charge of irrigation and
electricity, were a crucial period for the evolution and adoption of the
concept of economic planning at an all-India level. The post-war plan for the
reconstruction and economic development for India was then taking shape. The
Government took a very ambitious initiative to develop a framework within which
positive alternative policies were centrally formulated. It was to be an action
plan. The policy regarding water resources and electric power development was
conceived, initiated and was given a definite shape as part of this programme.
The Labour Department began all-India planning for the development of
irrigation, waterways and navigation virtually from scratch. Sporadic local
12
Bhagwan Das (1979) "Introductory note on the River
Valley Project", Thus Spoke Ambedkar, Vol 3, Bhagwan
Das (ed.), In this short essay Bhagwan Das highlights the role of Dr Ambedkar
in the development of river valley projects. 13 National Archive
of India (1987), International Council on Archives, Guide
to sources of Asian History: India 3.1, New Delhi, 105-12.
8
AMBEDKAR´S CONTRIBUTION TO WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT
enquiries and
investigations in these matters had been made by the Centre from time to time,
but planning efforts had been undertaken exclusively on a local basis. It was
the first time that the Centre began to consider planning as a fundamental
subject for water, power, mineral resource etc., on a comprehensive all-India
scale and against an all India background. 14 A Central
Government policy with regard to water resources and hydro-electric power
development was accordingly evolved and given a definite shape. Among the
consequences of these efforts were: (a)
the emergence of a definite all-India policy with regard to the development of
"water and electric power resources" of the country;
(b) the creation of an
administrative apparatus and technical bodies at the Centre to assist the
states in the development of irrigation and electric power resources such as
the present-day Central Water Commission and Central Electricity Authority;
(c) the adoption of the
concept of River Valley Authority or Corporation to overcome constitutional
problems regarding the jurisdiction of Central-State Governments and to develop
irrigation and hydro-electric power of interstate rivers;
(d) the introduction of the
concept of regional and multipurpose development of river valley basin for the first time in
India; and
(e) the initiation of
some important present day river valley projects, major and minor, which
include
14 File No. DW-1-25 CWINC/47, Labour Department, "Setting up of the Central Water,
Irrigation and Navigation Commission on Permanent Basis", National
Archive, New Delhi.
9
THE
MAN AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS
the Damodar River
Valley, Sone River Valley, Orissa river Schemes including the Mahanadi, the
Chambal River Scheme and the schemes for the river of the Deccan.
Dr. Ambedkar, being at
the helm of affairs of the Labour Department was instrumental in initiating
these steps. With his deep knowledge in the area of economics, politics and
constitutional law, he helped the Central Government and his Department in the
articulation of water and power policy and planning. What follows is an attempt
to understand and highlight the role and contribution made by Ambedkar and his
department during 1942-46 to this aspect of India's
development. Their achievements were in terms of policy formulation, creation
of an administrative apparatus and technical bodies at the Centre that provided
an alternative solution to state-Central problems, and setting in motion
several present-day major and medium river valley projects.
An extract from the
book “Ambedkar’s Contribution to Water Resources Development” A Research
Project by Central Water Commission , Ministry of Water Resources, River Development
and Ganga Rejuvenation, CENTRAL WATER COMMISSION NEW DELHI. First published in
1993
Wednesday 11 September 2019
Sunday 8 September 2019
Sunday 25 August 2019
A Short History of Untouchables in Indian Army and Role of Dr. Ambedkar - Bhagwan Das
A Short History of
Untouchables in Indian Army and Role of Dr. Ambedkar
-Bhagwan
Das
(Note: This essay was written
by Bhagwan Das in 2005 on my request. Actually Bhagwan Das proposed to write a
book on Untouchables role in Indian Army and he had collected some material
also but he could not. It was because Bhagwan Das himself had served in Royal
Air Force as Radar Operator and was deployed on Burma border to face Japenese
attack during Second Word War. He motivated the Dalit Youth to join army where
there are lot of vacancies at officer level. Actually Dr. Ambedkar was also in
favour of Dalits joining the army because it has played a very important role
in awakening the Dalits.
He also edited and published a small book
under the name “Untouchable Soldier” which was M.A. assignment of Ardyth
Basham, a Canadian scholar. This book gives details of Mazhbi and Mahar
communities (Untouchable) who were recruited in the Army by the Britishers. These still survive in the Indian army as Sikh
Light Infantry (Sikh L.I.) and Mahar Regiments. I have translated “Untouchable
Soldier) as “Achhoot Sainik” in Hindi and Dalit Today Prakshan, Lucknow is
going to publish it soon. - S.R. Darapuri I.P.S.(Retd.)
I am not going into the
history of the development of armed forces in India. Perhaps in the initial
stages members of the family fought for property, land etc. Later on the
families joined to form regular fighting groups. Bows, arrows, swords, spears,
were used before the arrival of the people from western regions who had
developed gun powder and explosives. With these new weapons some people or
groups of people conquered new lands and created empires.
Army
in India
India
was divided into various linguistic states and regions. Tamil, Telgu,
Kanarrese, Malyalam. Oria, Marathi, Bengali, different dialects of Hindi,
Punjabi, Pushtu etc., were spoken in different parts of India.
India
produced best kind of cloth which was very popular in Northern region, Europe
etc., People from European countries like Britain, France, Porutgal, Spain etc.
came to India mainly to set up markets and import cloth, spices etc. East India Company (British) and similar small
groups of traders set up trading companies and to protect their owners and the
colonies inhabited by them recruited watchmen and trained them to handle guns
and to defend themselves. These forces were hired by some Nawabs and petty
rulers especially in the areas near Bengal, Orissa and Madras. France and Spain
wound up their business early because they could not compete with the British.
Not
many people could come to India from British islands- England, Ireland and
Wales. They had to recruit people of Indian origin, professing Hinduism, Islam
and Christianity. People belonging to lower castes and Untouchables were not
recruited as soldiers in the army of the East India Company. People belonging
to higher castes like Rajputs, Jats etc. were recruited in the Indian army.
Moslems joined in large numbers because the salaries offered by the East India
Company were much higher than that paid by the Hindu and Muslim rulers.
British
formulated the theory of “martial” and non-martial races. Most of the soldiers
were recruited from the so called martial races. British soldiers were paid
higher wages as compared to the Indian soldiers.
Indian
soldiers had many grievances and complaints against the British rulers. There
were Indians belonging to the upper and ambitious castes and classes of Hindus
and Moslems. Somebody started the rumour that the cartridges which began to be supplied
in the middle of nineteenth century were smeared with the fats of the pigs and
cows and had to be removed by holding the cartridge by teeth. Many people
showed resentment and refused to handle the new cartridges. Some British
officers withdrew the cartridges and advised the Indian soldiers to smear the
cartridges with oil of their choice. Revolt in some areas was withdrawn by the
soldiers. But the rumour about the bullets and cartridges being smeared with
animal fat spread very quickly especially in the northern region and resulted
in killing of many British officers, looting their property, killing traders
etc. Who was behind this mutiny, there are different theories and many books
have been written. Some people called the mutiny the “First War of Independence’
and some people called it the revolt of the people and struggle for
independence. Situation was brought under control and the British took severe
action against the rebel soldiers.
SOME
NEW CHANGES
Sikhs
in the Punjab: Ranjit Singh was the most famous ruler who conquered large areas
of Northern India and created the Sikh empire. After his death British made many
rulers their friends and allies. Patiala, Nabha, Kalsia, Kapurthala supported
the British. British recruited Sikhs in the army and they proved to be very
committed and brave soldiers.
UNTOUCHABLES
Leather
workers (Chamars), Sweepers and Scavengers, Butchers (Khatiks) served the
British in the cantonments and performed menial duties. They served under the
army but were not recruited as soldiers. During mutiny owing to the shortage of
soldiers belonging to upper castes British changed their policy and began to
recruit the Chamars and Chuhra as soldiers. They raised Mazhbi-Ramdassia
Regiment and after giving some training sent them to Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to
fight against the rebel soldiers. The British also raised a Mehtar Regiment in
the Hindi belt and they were used not only as soldiers but were also employed
to punish the upper caste soldiers in Uttar Pradesh (Kanpur) and neighbouring
states. After the mutiny these regiments were disbanded but Mazhbi-Ramdassia
regiment was allowed to continue.
After
the mutiny Britsh changed their policy of recruitment and carefully recruited
the people belonging to Sikhs, Muslims etc. In view of the political struggle
launched by the upper caste people especially the trading communities, the
British changed their policy.
During
the First World War (1914-18) against Germany the British again changed their
recruitment policy. People belonging to different castes of Hindus, Muslims,
Sikhs etc., were recruited as soldiers and sent to fight in Europe. Germany was
defeated and European politics underwent a change.
WORLD
WAR II (1939-1946)
British
had introduced some changes in view of the developing political situation in
the country.
Gandhi
was emerging as a powerful political leader. He was promoting Hinduism and also
supporting the fight against ‘communalism’, Germany again started War which
soon spread and affected Britain, France, Belgium and other countries of
Europe. Britain especially some major industrial centres became easy targets of
bombing. Germans did not land in Britain. British shifted some industries to
India. Special arrangements were made for manufacturing war material and training
people.
Dr.
Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Role
Dr.
Ambedkar was appointed as Labour Member in the Viceroy’s Executive Council in
1942. Labour Department did not only deal with problems of Labour, Technical
Training and other departments were also transferred under Labour Department.
Mr. H.C. Prior. ICS was the Secretary; Brig. A.W.H. Rea was the Director,
Technical Training. Khan Bahadur Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani was the Director
Publicity and Recruitment. Dr. Ambedkar started many new schemes to train the
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes people. Many people were sent to study
and undergo training in U.K. in different branches of Engineering and
technology under the Bevin Training Scheme. After returning to India these young
men held very important posts. Babasaheb also led to the raising of Civil
Pioneer Force and semi-military Forces. He also took special interest in
raising the Mahar Regiment. Thousands of young men were trained as technicians
in the training centre run by the Department of Labour.
Many
regiments and soldiers dealt only with technical jobs. Many people belonging to
Scheduled Castes and Tribes also joined these departments. Some rose to high
positions in the I.E.M.E. and R.E.M.E.
The
Labour Department under the control and guidance of Dr. Ambedkar played a very
important historical role in the secularization of Indian Army. Many people
belonging to these neglected communities also joined Indian Air Force and Royal
Indian Army.
Contribution
of Dr. Ambedkar as Labour Member in the Government of India introduced certain
measures which brought about historical changes in the outlook of the people of
India especially among the down-trodden and backward sections of society.
Tuesday 20 August 2019
Wednesday 5 June 2019
Thursday 14 February 2019
Reservation on Economic Basis: Apprehensions and Probabilities
Reservation on Economic Basis: Apprehensions and Probabilities
SR Darapuri, I.P.S.(Retd) and Organiser, Jan Manch
Recently Bhartiy Janta Party (BJP) has got through a
bill in Lok Sabha for 10% reservation on economic basis, Constitution has been
amended and consent of the President of India has also been obtained. It is also worth mentioning that it got
support from all the political parties. The Central government has issued a
government order and states like Gujrat, Uttar Pradesh and Uttrakhand have
decided to implement it. It is also strange that one organisation of Savaranas
(higher castes) has challenged it in the Supreme Court but it has denied
stopping its operation. According to this arrangement a reservation of 10% has
been given to economically backward classes in government services and
educational institutions both government and private.
Now it is to be seen whether this step by BJP is
meant to give real benefit to the poor or it is just an attempt to influence the
poor to get their votes. It is also true that so far BJP with all its promises
and slogans like "Sab ka Saath , Sabka Vikas" ( Development of all ) has failed
to solve the problems of weaker sections of society, farmers and workers.
Against a claim of creating 2 crore jobs it could create only a few lacs of
them. Job opportunities in government
sector are shrinking and the number of unemployed is increasing every day. In these circumstances it does not appear to
be possible to provide any real benefit to the poor sections through
reservation. Hence the solution to unemployment lies in creating more jobs and
not reservation. Along with it is necessary to make right to employment a
fundamental right and also implement reservation in private sector.
Now if you look at the proposed criteria for
reservation it is very unjust and impracticable because 90% of non- Scheduled
Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) population will come within the income limit
of 8 lacs for whom only 10% reservation has been proposed. Similarly the limit
of 5 acres of land is also very high whereas the number of small and marginal
farmers is very large. Similarly the
criterion of house plot size is also impracticable. Now if the government
really wants to benefit the poor the income criterion of 8 lacs should be
lowered to non-income tax payers and land criterion of 5 acres should be
lowered to small and marginal farmers and low income level groups.
If we look at the constitutional aspect of the
proposed reservation, at present there is no provision for reservation on
economic basis. Even earlier whenever reservation was given on economic basis,
it was struck down by Supreme Court/High Courts. The present criterion of
social and educational backwardness is collective whereas poverty is an
individual condition. Social and educational backwardness is the result of
historical situation whereas economic backwardness is the result of wrong
economic policies of the state and is subject to change. Hence the proposed reservation
is likely to be struck down by the Supreme Court. It is significant to note
that there is a cap of 50% on upper limit of reservation. There are chances of
this reservation being rejected on this ground also.
It has also to be kept in mind that the basic
purpose of the reservation is to bring SCs/STs and Other Backward Classes at par with others classes by providing them
representation through reservation in public services, legislature and
educational institutions. It is not a poverty alleviation programme.
Reservation came into existence to provide adequate representation for
Untouchables, who were historically discriminated against. Tribals and OBCs,
who were at the bottom of the caste system, have also been granted this
benefit. There is a need to implement poverty alleviations programmes to
eradicate poverty among higher castes. But the government is continuously
decreasing the budget for welfare schemes. Hence there is a need for giving
more budgets for welfare schemes.
Dalit leaders subscribing to Dalit- Bahujan ideology
raise a demand in the name of social justice that reservation should be given
to all castes in proportion to their population. This argument is at once non-nonsensical as
reservation is not a dole which should be distributed to all. It is a process
of giving representation in the main stream to those sections of society who
have been victims of historical injustice and discrimination. It is not meant to give economic benefit to
them. Apart from it when there is an upper limit of 50% reservation how it can
be raised to 100%. Dalits are also quite apprehensive that if today reservation
is accepted on economic basis then there is the possibility of a demand for
applying it to their reservation also.
One benefit of this announcement of Modi government
has been that the basis of opposition to SC/ST and OBC reservation by higher
castes has been eroded because it has been accepted by all the classes. It has
also given justification to the reservation given so far. It has also weakened
the united opposition to reservation by the upper castes which is in the
interest of democracy.
The haste and the point of time at which Modi
government has declared reservation on economic basis, it appears to be a
political game plan. With it BJP is trying to hold on to the poorer sections of
higher castes that have been moving away from it and opposition political
parties were trying to co-opt them, but it has got a limited success in
it. On the contrary the elite class of
Savaranas (higher castes) has got angry with it because they see a danger for
them because in future the upper limit of reservation can be raised. That is
why not from any other side but “Youth for Equality” who have been opposing
reservation on caste basis has filed a writ in the Supreme Court to oppose this
reservation. If economic based reservation is not struck down by Supreme Court
it can motivate the OBCs to raise demand for increase in reservation quota in
proportion to their population.
It is also well known that reservation provides an
opportunity to the exploiting class to make inroads into the exploited classes
and creates an elite class whose class interest motivates them to absorb them
into exploiting class. It has been seen that the elite class (creamy layer)
which has emerged among Dalits and OBCs, their class interest is to take the
maximum benefit of reservation for them.
It also often comes for discussion that the benefit of reservation has
remained confined to a few families only. It is also alleged that the elite
section of these classes often oppose the relaxation of criterion like lowering
of income limit for creamy layer or giving preference to the most backward
among these classes. Savarnas often raise this demand that elite sections and
the families which have once taken the benefit of reservation should not be
further given this benefit. This demand is vehemently opposed by elite sections
of SC/Sts and OBCs. But the new reservation police is bound speed up this discussion and the demand for
equitable benefits of reservation.
From the above discussion it is clear that although
the economic based reservation declared by Modi government is more motivated by
political considerations rather than giving any real benefit to the
economically poor sections of society but still it has got many implications.
If it is not struck down by the Supreme Court it will give rise to many new
equations in the society and can weaken Savarna unity. It can also lead to
unity in self interest among elite sections of SC/ST and OBC classes against
the remaining sections of these classes. As regards political gain to BJP it
will be very limited because whereas the economically poorer sections of
Savaranas may be happy with it but at the same time higher castes of Savaranas
may be unhappy. On the whole reservation on economic basis is a new phenomenon
which will have far reaching social and political implications.
Saturday 19 January 2019
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