T Thomas: The politics of reservation

To offset centuries of discrimination that they suffered, it is necessary that the lower castes are given a head start.

Like all large countries, in India too, society is divided on several planes, viz. region, language, religion, and caste. These divisions are in addition to those based on economic disparities. If one lives in multi-storeyed buildings in cities like Bombay or Delhi, as opposed to living in a village or small town, one is less likely to be concerned about the religion or caste of one's neighbours unless they flaunt it. The other factor that helps to dilute social disparities is education. As people get more educated, caste distinctions become less conspicuous. This becomes obvious if one compares village life in Kerala with that in UP. In a Kerala village, caste can become a real factor mainly when it comes to marriages. In a UP village caste plays a role in determining which part of the village one can live in, which well one can draw water from, what occupation one can enter, etc. The main difference between the two states is the level of education.

Education is the key to removing caste disparities. One has to start at the level of primary and secondary education. Many lower-caste families cannot afford to send their children to school because they need them to work and supplement the income of the family. In order to overcome this problem it may be advisable for the government to consider giving a monthly cash reward (in addition to exemption from fees and free books) to all children from lower castes so that the parents see that by sending a child to school the family can actually supplement its income. In addition, the school should receive funds from the government to provide midday meals, books, and uniform for the children from lower castes. One of the stipulated duties of village panchayat officials could be to compile records of children not going to school and to persuade parents to send all children to school.

Another area where lower-caste children need assistance is in learning after the school hours. In most upper-caste households the parents are capable of helping their children with their studies. Among lower castes, where parents themselves are not literate, it will be necessary for teachers to devote time to help the children after the school hours. This will encourage such children to stay back in school in the evenings for such tuition and for reading books. Reading requires a certain atmosphere, which poorer lower-caste households may not be able to provide. Staying back in school will enable them to read books. Once children are inducted into reading they will make it a habit because it opens up new worlds to them. Fortunately, less privileged parents are usually more keen to ensure that their children perform well in studies because they realise the value of education, which they themselves did not enjoy. That is why many such parents are willing to sacrifice a lot to educate their children and show gre ater pride in the scholastic achievements of their children.

The whole public debate currently taking place in India is focused on reservations for admission to IIMs and IITs and professional colleges. This is really a case of putting the cart before the horse. The uplift of children from lower castes has to start at the primary and secondary school levels""not at the graduate level. Once the correction is made at the earlier stage, the playing field will become more level. Though it can be scientifically proved intelligence has nothing to do with caste, intelligence is something that has to be nurtured and developed through constant exercise. It is easier for affluent upper-caste children to exercise their intelligence at home. For a lower-caste child it is harder to do so as the people with whom he or she interacts at home may not be educated at all. Therefore, teachers will have to substitute for parents in mentoring such children. It may be a wise thing to reward teachers in primary and secondary schools so as to encourage them to take up such mentoring. Once the playing field is made more level at school, it becomes easier for a lower-caste child to compete with peers from the more affluent upper castes, although some of the economic handicaps will still remain. There is no gainsaying the fact that to offset centuries of discrimination that they suffered, it is necessary that the lower castes are given a head start. That is the rationale for reservation of seats in the institutes of higher learning like IIMs and IITs. It is like the established system of "handicaps" in the game of golf. A better player has a lower handicap as compared to someone who is not as good as he is. The better player has to give to the less experienced player what is known as "strokes", equal to the difference in handicaps. This enables them to play against each other on a comparable basis. As the less experienced player improves his game, his handicap is reset to reflect his improved proficiency. This raises a relevant question whether children of lower-caste parents who have reached a degree of wealth and education should continue to be entitled to preferential treatment.

Today, India is rated as the fastest-growing and largest democracy in the world and it is attracting increasing investment, domestic and international. Our country is admired for the fact that we have managed to hold together as a nation despite significant differences and disparities in wealth and beliefs. It is a pity that a politician like Arjun Singh is allowed to try and disturb this equilibrium. Perhaps, it is time to shift him to a less sensitive portfolio. What we as a nation should be doing is to make reservations less relevant in the longer run through a combination of two steps, viz. (i) provide cash subsidy for the education of children from lower castes, and (ii) increase the number of seats available in the institutes of higher learning. Why should there be only six IITs? Why not 25 of them? Why not have a dozen IIMs?

Surely someone like our Prime Minister is capable of rising above the dust created by cynical Arjun Singh and declare we will upgrade and expand to IITs an additional twenty of the leading engineering colleges in different parts of the country. It can be done by an administrative order. Additional funds for capital and revenue expenditure will have to be provided. In the context of our national budget, the sums involved will not be significant. Future generations will thank him while Arjun Singh will be soon forgotten.