10 Per Cent Reservation For General Category

How reservation will solve the problem of society, if deserving one is far away from that. Reservation is that should be given to deserving, not to the demanding one. And in answer of this question, 10 % reservation for EWS is introduced on January 14, 2019.

The Indian Parliament has introduced the bill (One Hundred and Twenty-Fourth Amendment) to extend 10% quota in job and education IIMs, IITs, NITs and Central Universities to economically weaker section ( EWS) of general category, among all the caste and communities who are not covered by any of the existing reservation. This bill came into effect on January 14, 2019. In Indian constitution, there is no provision of economic basis reservation. So, to allow 10% reservation for economically weaker sections of General Category, government passed 124th constitutional amendment act, which added sub-clauses to Article 15 & 16.

What is reservation:

The objective of reservation is to bring equality in society, to improve the livelihood of the section which is not grown much in the status of social and education.

Who can take the benefits from this bill:

• Annual household income below Rs 8 lakh.
• Agriculture land below 5 acres
• Should not have a flat of 1,000 square feet or more.
• Should not possess land of 100 sq yards in notified municipality areas and 200 yards in non-notified areas.

Annual household include the income of all family members and will cover all sources like salary, agriculture, business etc.

Was it tried before:

yes, same kind of thought was attempted before also in 1991,1192, but could not be succeed. The idea was rejected on the basis that reservation cannot be given to economically weaker class, but rather it should be given to distressed section.

What will be benefits and impact on other than EWS:

This complaint was always there, that everyone from 'upper caste' is not rich or able to stand in society, then why caste-based reservation. But still this weak category was never considered for benefits as it is so called "upper caste", though are in poverty from generations. People from poor general category wished that they could be part of lower caste, at least this way people could benefit from reservation system. There was voice from every corner of general category that economically weaker section as well need some policy to enhance the livelihood. And this bill is the response of all those complaints and smile on the faces having questions on their identity. Whoever of general category, will fall under the coverage of EWS, will get 10 % reservation is Jobs and high education.

The government had said that the reservation of EWS of general category will not impact quota for SC, ST and OBCs people. Yes 10 % reservation is not from 50 % reserved seats, but it is taken from 50% non-reserved seats. But still other half of story is saying that reservation is not altered for existing ( SC,ST, OBC etc), but merits list may get reduced for sure.

What negativity this bill brings and what could be alternate option.

Some opinions are stuck on the side that this bill could be political angle only before central election and it was called "Vote Bank Politics". There is huge population which comes under EWS criteria, so in actual benefit to individual is not much impressive. Instead of adding more and more population in reservation, rather improving scholarships to poor, improving education system, providing more employment opportunities, will prevent the need to reservation. And this is actual equality where everyone will get deserving benefits instead of fake reservation.

Conclusion:

General category waited for long for some rule which can consider the economically status instead of caste only, and this bill did that work. Though reason to bring this bill can differ and advantages also doesn't look much emerging, but thoughts to notice and bring changes in economically weak general category by opposing existing rigid policy, is considerable and appreciable for equality and inclusive growth.

- Veena Goyal

Related Section:

10 Per Cent Reservation For General Category - Manish Kumar