Impact of reservations policy on our education system

(By-Neelam Tripathi(mgt deptt.))

Abstract
Reservation is a Rule enforced by Indian Law according to which a percentage of seats are
reserved in the public sector units, union and state civil services, union and state government
departments and in all public and private educational institutions, except in the religious/
linguistic minority educational institutions, for the socially and educationally backward
communities and the Scheduled Castes and Tribes who are inadequately represented in these
services and institutions. The reservation policy is also extended for the Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes for representation in the Parliament of India. The Supreme Court currently
upholds it's verdict on 27 per cent reservations for SC's and ST's. In this article I wants to
through light on certain situations which are known by everyone but what there consequences
would be appears in our system may be shortly or long term depends upon their implementation
in our national system.
Key words:
Reservation policy in India
Impact of reservation in education system


Introduction
Reservations in favour of Backward Classes (BCs) was introduced way before Independence in
the princely states south of the Vindhyas. Chatrapati Sahuji Maharaj who was the King of
Kolhapur in Maharashtra introduced reservation in favour of backward classes as early as 1902
to eradicate poverty and to give them their due share in the State administration. The notification
of 1902 created 50% reservation in services for backward classes/communities in the State of
Kolhapur. This notification is considered to be the first government order providing for
reservation for the welfare of SC, ST and BC classes in India. The Indian Judiciary System has
been upholding Judgements in reservations and in some cases has opted for fine tuning its
implementations. Lots of judgements regarding reservations have been modified subsequently by
Indian parliament through constitutional amendments. Some judgements of Indian judiciary has
been disregarded by state and central Governments.
The socially and religiously-imbedded caste system in India created schisms among the Indian
population, forming large groups of ethnic and caste minorities. Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled
Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Class (OBC) constitute about half of the countrys population.Due
to beliefs that the historically low castes are impure by birth and association with stigmatized
occupations such as butchers and day laborers, the lower castes - SC, ST, and OBC have been
socioeconomically marginalized.2

The reservation policy today takes three main forms: reservations for positions in local
governments, civil service jobs, and in educational institutions. Seats in the local governments
Gram Panchayats (GP) are saved for SC, ST, and OBC candidates proportionally to the groups
population share to overcome underrepresentation of these marginalized groups in political
institutions. Reservations for civil service jobs are facilitated through relaxation of minimum age
restrictions, required qualifications, and lower application fees. The policy also provides equal
footing for SC and ST applicants through pre-examination training and separate interviews. Lastly
admission to educational institutions are reserved for SC and ST students through scholarships,
grants, special housing, and concessions in fees as well as academic support.5 This paper focuses on
the first form of reservation policy, enforced by the 73rd and 74th Amendment of the Constitution in
1993, mandating greater representation of SC and ST populations in the local governments.

Methodology
The methodology in this research study is not one-dimensional. It is rather host of historical,
theoretical and analytical. The data is being collected from secondary sources. Book, Journals
and Magazines available in various libraries be the main source.And also from the various web
sites available on the google search.

Review of literature

Dalmia, Vasudha; Sadana, Rashmi, eds. (2012). "The Politics of Caste Identity So for this is
concerned the mention may be made that reservation is necessary in the lower caste people
because the people which are living in those sections are much more economically weak. Joshi,
Barbara R. Untouchable!: voices of the Dalit
liberation movement. Minority.As the name mentions the Untouchables where helpless in
various matters such as schooling and taking part in various matters in which other people used
to they were demanding reservation.

significant reductions in poverty for STs, SCs do not experience the same results,
potentially due to the homogenous living environment and geographic isolation of many
ST hamlets.15




Table 1. Previous Literature on Reservation Policy Impact
Authors Region Time Frame Outcomes Measured

Pande

16 states

1960-1992

State-level total
spending, education
spending, ST welfare
spending, job quotas
Duflo et al. West Bengal 1998-2003 Investment in local
public goods
Chattopadhyay & Duflo West Bengal, Rajasthan 2000-2002 Investment in local
public goods
Besley et al. Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
2002 Household benefits
received, public goods,
infrastructure
Bradhan et al. West Bengal 2003-2005 Household benefits
received, Gram
Panchayat expenditure
Chin & Prakash 16 states 1960-2000 Household poverty
levels

These studies analyze the effect of reservations on policy decisions, provision of public goods and
benefits, as well as household poverty. Research has shown that reservations often create policies
geared towards benefiting disadvantaged groups and that benefits received by the targeted
households increases. However how reservations affect the daily lives of disadvantaged households
in less direct ways is unclear.

Impact of reservation on the quality of Education

Shortage Of Faculty - There is a huge shortage of teachers, more importantly shortage of
quality teachers in educational institutes. The number of students has been on the rise with each
passing year. The ratio of teachers and students is highly unbalanced, tipping in favour of the
students. According to the Government the total number of seats belonging to general category
will rise which has been far from been implemented. So how is the shortage of teachers going to
be filled up. In such a scenario reservation has a great impact on the quality of education.

Inadequate Infrastructure - In order to promote higher technical education in the country, the
Government has planned to open few more IITs and IIMs. The current IITs and IIMs are already
facing shortage of faculty members and it is anonymous as to how the government will manage
more faculty members for newer institutes. And to add to it the government has not solved the
problems related to shortage of laboratories, playgrounds, staff, hostels and classrooms in
existing institutes. So how will it be able to provide these to new one's

Negative Impact on Merit - The repute of an institution depends on the outstanding results the
students produce. IIT or IIM or IISC are renowned for the quality of education and excellent
results it produces. The idea of reservation will have a direct consequence on the quality of
graduates that these institutes would deliver. The morale of the outstanding students is lowered
as the criteria of admission is now not just good merit but also reservation. A normal SC or ST
candidate is ensured of a seat while a more worthy student might not be able to get a seat which
is not his fault but of reservation. It puts a dark shadow on the institutes excellence as well.

Brain Drain - Every country banks upon its youth population to take it to new height of
importance and to back it, a country needs to provide everyone with best education. Failing to do
so has resulted and is resulting in a Phenomena known as Brain Drain which is a great loss to not
only to the pride of that country but it accounts to economic loss as well

Impact of Reservation in other Areas

Shortage of Investor's - A shortage of Investor's is another cause of concern as private
companies invest in the education sector only if they see a bright future. If all the bright and
qualified talent falls short in supply, the investor's will find new shores.

Tool for Politicians - The Reservation policy has an hidden agenda which the politicians are
seeking to take benefit of. They use it as tool to expand their control over the premier institutions
to serve favours to their chosen ones. False documents and spurious certificates will enable
undeserving to get admissions in certain premier institutes. In the process the status of an
institute which has been built upon years is lost.

Danger to the Unity of the People - Reservations are a form of ethnic discrimination, they tend
to favour one particular group. It also affects intermixing of castes and discourages inter-caste
and inter-faith marriages.

Misuse of Reservations - Many times the economically sound people make use of most of the
seats reserved for backward castes thereby making the aim a total failure. Rich people from
backward caste do not need reservation, by using reservation they deny poor people from
forward caste to come forth.

Possible Solutions

More stress is needed to put on primary education. If an individual whose basics are lacking gets
reservation he will not be able to justify the reservation he is being given. Efforts are needed at
maximizing the educational infrastructure, allocating more funds and reforming the entire
teaching and learning process and it's administration.

Reservation is not the only solution to uplift the backward. Effective implementation is needed
for policies which provide the basic necessities of life like-food, clothing, shelter, medical
facilities. These need to be provided at nominal rates through fair price shops which are
exclusive to the economically backward.

Partial reservation in the form of limiting the number of children of backward classes who will
receive the benefit is another possible solution. A family comprising of 3-4 children getting the
reservation is not beneficial on the whole.


Referneces:
www.sulekha.com
Study papers of target study center
Wikipedia-reservation policy in India
Research paper by
Master of Public Policy Candidate
The Sanford School of Public Policy
Duke University