Reservation for upper castes: Another jumla in making
With elections fast approaching, PM Modi has inaugurated another ‘bullet train’ in unforeseen hurry. He has said his government will offer 10% reservation to upper caste people from lower economic backgrounds. If this is implemented, Brahmins, Thakur, Jat, Martha and Baniyas will reap the benefits of reservation.
There is no doubt that this self-contradictory declaration at many levels, is a big jumla because the government cannot implement this in the time before the term ends. By the time the bill is tabled and discussed in both houses, and then reaches the President, NDA government would have finished its term.
Modi has lost the faith of lower class with hisanti-farmer and anti-labour decisions that have mostly helped the corporates and private sector. BJP is securing less vote share in rural areas. Along with this, Jat and Maratha communities had taken to streets seeking reservation and had shown visible dissatisfaction against Modi.
The PM has made this announcement with the only reason that he needs to clinch upper class votes for his party. But this declaration has once again brought the focus back on caste system in this country. BJP as a party that said the country shouldn’t have caste based reservation, has gone and taken this decision. This has embarrassed marginalized communities that have identified with the party.
At the same time, even the parameter that has been fixed for the ‘reservation deserving category’ has also come under scanner because it is capped at Rs 8 lac per annum. Those earning almost Rs 65,000 per month, with five acres of land and or a 1000 sq ft flat as possessions, are considered poor. This could be some kind of a cruel joke?
Just when the creamy layer discussion is happening in the context of reassigning reservation desirability, how can an upper caste person be given such leeway in accessing the benefits of reservation?
Of course there are people who are very economically disadvantaged among the upper castes who need help. How can this policy help THAT person? This reservation benefit will not reach that category at all because this policy is aimed at pleasing the upper class upper caste people only. Hence, the government continues to remain poor in perceiving poverty whether rural or urban.
More than anything else, Ambedkar’s reservation is not aimed at making the poor into rich. There are schemes for all impoverished people in this country including BPL card, one kilo rice, government school schemes – almost everything is aimed at caste poverty people. Reservation is aimed at upliftment of those people who are backward in accessing education and education aided benefits such as jobs etc.
Someone who is poor today may be rich tomorrow and his perception of his personality may undergo huge change later. But a dalit today cannot become a Brahmin tomorrow and lead a life with new identity and renewed prestige. We need to remember that no matter how rich the person is, his caste will define the privileges he’ll enjoy. We also need to remember the incident of the President of India having been forced to stay out of Sanctum Sanctorum of a famous temple because he came from lower caste background?
When this is the case, how can ordinary Dalits even think of leading a life normally? An upper caste man may feign his income for the certificate, but a Dalit can never get a caste certificate to announce him a Brahmin, and lead a life of changed identity.
The government had the opportunity to get a report on the statistics relating to the number and income of Brahmins in upper castes before arriving at the parameter to fix many scales. Brahmins, Rajputs, Jats and Marathas have been using reservation since the last 50 years based on economic background.
When this is compared to that of the lower caste people who have used reservation for economic betterment, one would realize reservation hasn’t even been properly implemented in this country.
Only upper caste people have political dominance in the country and they are also economically much well off. Hence, what is the need to boost them? To provide impetus to them would mean that we push the lower castes further. This is like adding an extra set of incisors to conventional set of teeth.
Now the rich upper caste people already have reservation in the form of ‘payment seat’. Are they not using it owing to bad grades but high potential to buy the seat? Those who can earn Rs 60,000 per month can make their kids self sufficient without having to seek aid.
If India has to see comprehensive development, the lives of Dalits, Shudras and Muslims has to change. We need to understand how effectively reservation has been implemented into their lives and how many members are capable of earning Rs 60,000 per month among them. If the situation has remained as it was before, then the government needs to take stock of how reservation can be effectively implemented.
Millions of young boys and girls from lower caste are Modi fans. They are the ones who are used as pawns in communal riots in coastal Karnataka. The Billavas, Mogaveeras and others have been brainwashed that reservation is damaging to the nation. Now the very government who did that, is all set to offer reservation to upper castes. With this, Modi has let down those who trusted him.
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World saw valour, courage of Indian armed forces through Operation Sindoor: President
New Delhi (PTI): President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said the world saw the valour of Indian armed forces through Operation Sindoor when they destroyed terror camps on the strength of their own resources and asserted that any terror act will be responded with decisive action.
"India has proved that power can be used with responsibility and wisdom. The world has seen the valour and courage of Indian armed forces through Operation Sindoor," Murmu said in her address to both Houses of Parliament, marking the beginning of the Budget Session.
"Our nation, on the strength of our own resources, destroyed terror camps. My government sent a message that any act of terror will be responded to with resolute and decisive action," the President said, amid thumping of desks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other parliamentarians.
Murmu said the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty was part of India's fight against terror.
"We are also working on Mission Sudarshan Chakra to further strengthen national security," the President said, adding that security forces have also taken decisive action against Maoist terror.
Following Operation Sindoor, she said, the trust on Indian defence platforms has increased.
Murmu further said her government was committed to social justice in the country.
In the third term of the government, she said, work is being done to further empower the poor, and social security benefits are available to nearly 95 crore citizens now.
"My government is committed to true social justice," she said, adding that 25 crore Indians moved out of poverty in the last 10 years.
The President also said the government has been successful in tackling corruption and scams, and ensuring proper use of public funds.
"For India, the end of the first 25 years of this century has been filled with several successes, proud achievements and extraordinary experiences. In the last 10-11 years, India has strengthened its foundation in every sector," she said.
Lauding India's celebration of the 350th martyrdom day of the ninth Sikh guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, and the country's tribute to revered tribal leader and freedom fighter Birsa Munda on his 150th birth anniversary, Murmu said, "when the country remembers the contribution of its ancestors, the new generation gets inspiration, which further speeds up our journey towards Viksit Bharat (Developed India)."
"The country celebrated the 350th Shaheedi Diwas of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. During the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, the entire country paid him tribute and remembered his contribution to the tribal community," the President said.
"The events related to the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel further strengthened the sense of Ek Bharat, Shresht Bharat (One India, Best India). The entire country became witness to how Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika's birth anniversary celebrations filled the country with music and a sense of unity," Murmu said.
The President's mention of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) scheme was met with loud protests from the Opposition benches.
Murmu said the VB-G RAM G initiative would provide guarantee for 125 days of work, would stop corruption and leakages, and provide a new impetus to rural development.
The Opposition members raised slogans demanding its rollback, even as the treasury benches thumped their desk in support of the scheme.
The President had to take a brief pause amid opposition cries of "vapas lo" (roll back) against the Act that replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The Opposition parties have been demanding withdrawal of the VB-G RAM G Act and restoration of MGNREGA as a rights-based law in its original form, the right to work and the authority of panchayats.
The government has, meanwhile, claimed that the new Act will further strengthen the guarantee for rural employment.
