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The policy of caste-based reservations as it exists in our country has not been implemented with any vision for the eradication of the caste system and instead helps at maintaining it. Although the effect of this reservation is indeed visible as these days several castes are now being represented in some ‘high-profile’ jobs where their presence was never noticed. Many of the most sought after professions are these days not in the hands of very few castes alone as that used to happen in the past.
But did we achieve what was meant through the reservation policy?
Castes are generally connected with a particular profession. In my view the primary problem gripping the Indian society is not that castes are classified as lower and higher but that occupations attached with castes are graded as better and worse. This is why everybody wants to take up only a few of the ‘elite’ professions and the adversely affected majority press for proportionate representation of different castes in ‘those’ professions.
Can a society run where everybody is encouraged to take up only a few ‘preferred’ professions? Can a society survive without even one of the most ‘hated’ professions? Why a tailor’s occupation is looked down upon? Milking a cow and cleaning clothes are considered as low-grade professions? Why to broom is considered as an inferior work? Reservations should have aimed at changing our mind-set but unfortunately changing this perception is not the target of the existing policy of reservations. What happens in reality is that this only gives some of them a chance to become eligible for looking at those jobs as inferior ones to which their castes were earlier connected to.
In fact, basis of our reservation policy lies in the premise that the jobs of shoemakers, carpenters, barbers, mesons, plumbers and washer men are inferior to the jobs where reservation is in existence. Reservation actually works against the essence of dignity of work and instead denigrates these professions further.
The solution to this social problem in India exists in helping create an atmosphere wherein all kinds of professions are accepted as equally important. It is not easy to do this. Unfortunately even in a family differential treatment is given to different professionals in accordance with the hierarchy set out by our age-old society.
But did we achieve what was meant through the reservation policy?
Castes are generally connected with a particular profession. In my view the primary problem gripping the Indian society is not that castes are classified as lower and higher but that occupations attached with castes are graded as better and worse. This is why everybody wants to take up only a few of the ‘elite’ professions and the adversely affected majority press for proportionate representation of different castes in ‘those’ professions.
Can a society run where everybody is encouraged to take up only a few ‘preferred’ professions? Can a society survive without even one of the most ‘hated’ professions? Why a tailor’s occupation is looked down upon? Milking a cow and cleaning clothes are considered as low-grade professions? Why to broom is considered as an inferior work? Reservations should have aimed at changing our mind-set but unfortunately changing this perception is not the target of the existing policy of reservations. What happens in reality is that this only gives some of them a chance to become eligible for looking at those jobs as inferior ones to which their castes were earlier connected to.
In fact, basis of our reservation policy lies in the premise that the jobs of shoemakers, carpenters, barbers, mesons, plumbers and washer men are inferior to the jobs where reservation is in existence. Reservation actually works against the essence of dignity of work and instead denigrates these professions further.
The solution to this social problem in India exists in helping create an atmosphere wherein all kinds of professions are accepted as equally important. It is not easy to do this. Unfortunately even in a family differential treatment is given to different professionals in accordance with the hierarchy set out by our age-old society.
This change in our mind-set however can be initiated if we can make these occupations financially lucrative and economically attractive and start using latest technology to handle these jobs. Tailoring job done by a fashion designer or clothes-cleaning done by dry-cleaners and barber’s job done by a make-up man or by a hair-doer and job of a waste-disposal and management company never invite disrespect because these are financially better and hence socially acceptable professions. In addition to the existing reservation policy it would be of great help if the so called ‘elite castes’ start taking up these professions and show the society that how these professions can be improved with the use of latest technology and how it can be made financially attractive as well as socially acceptable.
