This is what I think about reservation

Sectarian reservation is a boiling topic these days. Last year, we heard the Union government placing a bill on 27% reservation for OBCs. It evoked strong reaction among students in AIIMS and other medical institutes. The reservation issue has four areas of concern. Firstly, it does not respect merit. In a developing country like ours, we need the best among the best in every field of activity. The government promotes competition, yet it does not equip us with the mind to compete. Secondly, it does no good dissolving the communal tension, but can help to spring up new conflicts. Thirdly, existing reservations can lead to demands for reservations from other sections of our society. As is the case now, either you scrap the whole system of sectarian reservation or you award the reservations to OBCs. Fourthly, it is adding a new sphere of corruption. Many people are forging their family history to bring out certificates of SC, OBC etc, so as to make maximum utilization of the system.It was quite disappointing to read reports on communal sentiments harboured by students even in world class institutes like AIIMS, IITs and IIMs. I feel it’s high time that the intellectual class of the society should make their voice heard louder on the distribution of privileges issue. The different labels of ‘religious minorities’, ‘Scheduled Castes’, ‘Other Backward Classes’, etc are doing no better to the integrity of our country than just helping communal tension. Given the present state, we are busy determining the ‘category’ we fall in. How appropriate is it to demarcate the underprivileged on communal grounds? In today’s world, resources do not come on such basis in all cases and the basic universal factor for development is always the extent of availability of resources. Therefore, I feel the privileges should be distributed along economic grounds rather than sectarian grounds.India has been defined as a ‘Socialist Secular’ State, paying equal respect to every so-called community. Then, how come a particular group claims to be a ‘minority’ or ‘backward’ group? It puts a big question mark on the character of our composite society. It also presents a question of dignity – why should we look forward to somebody’s favour? It’s so similar to a beggar pretending to be lame having the limbs intact. Few days ago, Ms. Meira Kumar, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, said the Government is persuaded to forward reservations by the fact that even the common educated and ‘high-class’ people do patronize communalism. True, the matrimonial columns of newspapers are a burning proof in support of the statement. But the question arises, why are our leaders doing nothing but contributing fuel to the fire? Is it such that the ‘Divide and Rule’ policy still exists with our ‘rulers’ even after 60 years of freedom?I am not opposed to development of the masses, but it should not have communal flavour. The newly formed BSP government promises to bring forward reservations on economic lines. If reservation has to stay, this line of thought sounds more logical. What do you think?