Reservation 

It is a matter requiring sober thought that reservations in education and public services are now in excess of 60% (in addition, reservations in politics are at 22.5% for SC/ST and also for OBCs in local self government institutions). No society that places no emphasis on merit can survive, what to say of growing. Reservations began for SC/STs for 10 years capped at 22.5%. There was a caveat then, that efficiency of administration should not be imperilled. Today, with the country awash in reservations without any time limit, and each political party willing to increase it both in proportion and prolong it to perpetuity, after 78 years of independence, whatever has happened to efficiency of administration? Everyone agrees that administrative efficiency has declined over the years and decades. In the rat race to give more and more reservations, education and governance have been given the short shrift. How can a country where caste determines career become a developed country? Once India became independent and the Constitution came into force, equality was mandated. A helping hand to the deprived has become a depriving hand today. At this rate, can we ever compete with China and the rest of the world? Instead of world class, we are becoming less and less competitive every day. If merit and hard work are relegated behind caste, what future do we have as a country? The time has come to think of phasing out reservations. Those who have availed of the benefit once, they should not get the benefit again. Why should someone get the benefit of becoming a doctor through reservations and then go on to join the IAS through quota? Those who have got the benefit, their children should not get the benefit. This will broad base reservations and benefit more and more candidates also.

Vijay Kumar