RESERVATIONS

RESERVATIONS, has become the most controversial term in recent times. It is one of the factors bound to change the life of millions through its impact on their lives. Does reservation mean providing special rights to one group or excluding the others from it? Well, the controversy depends on your position vis-a –vis the debate.
.Firstly, if we analyse the debate from the point of view of the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and "other backward classes" we realise that they have been marginalized over the years. They feel that the time has now come when the government must make amendments and review itself in course of its past mistakes. The hour has now come to provide them with special rights in order to equalize their position with respect to the other sections of society.
On the other hand, if we view the controversy from another perspective, we realise that by accepting reservation these people are actually accepting a certain marginalisation from society.The general category on the other hand feels that they are being excluded from their rights.Does the government have the right to take away the rights of one category to compensate for the other?
The government needs to realise that reservation is not the solution to its problems . it needs to create a society based on equality. By introducing reservations based on caste the government is creating a larger social divide.We need to question the genesis of this divide. Are we ready to be divided again on the basis of caste?We need to be joined by forces of community, peace and brotherhood than to be divided by dirty party politics!

By: Nidhi Anjmani
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan