Free the job reservation

Dr L Krishnamangol Singh *

Protest against cancellation of Scheduled Tribe reservation under the government of NCT of Delhi on March 8, 2011 :: Pix - Zamlunmang Zou

It is essential to understand why job reservation is followed in India. And, what is the basis of job reservation? The first question related to the fact that scheduled tribes (STs) and scheduled castes (SCs) are economically backward. Therefore, job reservation for them is justified under the Indian Constitution. The second question relates to the fact that the Governments adopt job reservation for STs and SCs in government services in order to enable them achieve social and economic justice at par with the general population.

Of late, the other backward classes (OBC) also joined the rank of job reservation. In fact, the OBC is a late comer in the field of job reservation. Therefore, in this article, we shall mainly concentrate on the reservation issues for the STs and SCs. We shall also touch on the reservation issues for OBC. And finally, we shall re-examine the limitations of job reservation policy followed in the country.

To begin with, we shall examine as to why job reservation is followed in the country. There are views that like all inhabitants, the tribals are also considered to be the earliest inhabtants in the country. And, inspite of the different views on the earlier inhabitants, it is true that the tribals existed in the country since ancient times. Also, without going into the genesis of the different civilizations in ancient times, it can be pointed out that the tribals mainly existed in the forests/forest areas, and other interior areas. Thus, there were many primitive tribes in several forest areas of the country. And their descendants still continue to exist in the forest areas as their dwelling places within a state.

Therefore, with the launching of the successive five year plans in the country (India), job reservation policy has been adopted with a view to uplifting the socio-economic status of the tribals in different parts of the country. It is well known that the job reservation policy for the STs and SCs, are being implemented under the Indian Constitution. Therefore, it is now the right time to re-examine as to whether the job reservation policy followed in the country is still relevant. To answer this question, we may briefly look at the following theoretical and policy issues.

1. Fredrich List, a well known economist was famous for his theory on infant industry argument. This theory is well known to those who are concerned with economics and theory of protectionist policies. Therefore, the theory needs no elaboration. However, it can be pointed out that, according to the theory, the infant industry must be protected till they grow or develop in order to be able to compete with that of the advanced countries. The classic example was the process of industrialisation in Germany in the mid-19th century.

It is found that the policy makers used the theory of protection in trades, and also in other social sectors including job reservations. As already noted, the job reservation policy is still followed within the framework of the Indian Constitution. And, this has now created social tensions particularly among the educated youths and at different levels of the society.

2. The assumption behind the job reservation is that the STs, SCs and OBC are economically weak and that they need protection against the general category or general candidates. This proposition or hypothesis used in the making of economic policy or social policy is now very controversial as our society has now shown considerable improvements in terms of many parameters or indicators, such as per capita income, education, health, housing conditions, household savings or savings of the individuals, assets, general standard of living, etc.

There are now many reports and documentations in support of the above observations. In fact, the poverty line has now markedly declined to almost 20 per cent in the recent years. The estimates may be varied, but there are evidences that the overall general standards of living has now shown considerable signs of improvements since the first plan (1951-56). And, there is also the emergence of some affluent sections in the society, who have accumulated good fortunes in terms of wealth and income. Apart from the poverty line concept, there is also now new definition of "empowerment line" to assess the socio-economic progress in terms of food, health, education, etc.

While the 'empowerment line" may be used as indicator for socio-economic progress, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) had already developed similar indicators known as as the "basic needs", which include provisions for food, clothing, housing, safe drinking water, education, health, etc. This approach to or strategy of development known as the "basic needs strategy of development" has influenced and shaped new thinkings in conceptualizing or measuring the level of development. In fact, it is necessary to develop new indicators and policy parameters for measuring the levels of development in any changing society and economy. It is in this context that the question of job reservation needs re-examination in order to evolve rational public policy or economic policy.

3. The protection in favour of economically weaker sections of the society might be justified at the time launching the First Five Year Plan of the country. And, in the name of STs and SCs, these sections of the society enjoyed the benefits of job reservations and other fruits of planned development. In fact, many schemes of general economic development are enjoyed by all sections of the society. This further implies that the planned development of public goods or social goods and many schemes of subsidised programmes including education, health, electrification, etc. are enjoyed by all sections of the society irrespective of castes. In such a situation, the question of job reservations need fresh re-examination.

The question is more relevant when we consider that once protection is given for job reservation or for any scheme of development, it is very difficult on the part of the government to withdraw it. According to the theory and policy of protection also once protection is given to a particular industry (in the form of tariff or quantitative restriction) it is also very difficult to withdraw the protection till the firm or the industry is fully developed to stand for competition. Again, a higher degree of protectionist policy also lowers efficiency due to the lack of competition.

This observation applies to the job markets. Today, the new economic policies of different countries encourages economic liberalisation, privatisation, competition, etc. which open the opportunities for working the market efficiently. The new paradigm shift in the economic policies also suggests that once undue intervention is given to the market economy or free working of the market, it leads to inefficient allocation of resources, and tardy economic growth and development.

The neo-liberal economic model and policy therefore lends strong support to competitive economic growth and development. While there are critiques to this paradigm shift in economic policy, it provides vast opportunities for growth and development along with more freedom of the people. It is in this context that there is the need to withdraw or close the job reservation policy in order to build up a socially competitive job market and dispel any form of social tensions. This outlook will also minimise and perhaps eliminate social divide at the state and national levels.

In fact, social costs of job reservation will be immeasurable if we take into considerations various crimes against the people in the North-eastern region. Thus, the social dimensions of job reservation for STs, SCs, OBC and others are very large at the state and national level. In fact, it has now become intra-state and intra-national issues among various sections of the society.

4. Another aspect which deserves top priority in the discussion on job reservation relates to the emergence of tribal and other elites in the Indian society including Manipur. It is now observed that the performance of the STs and SCs has shown remarkable progress in terms of many indicators of development in different parts of the country. In Manipur also, the tribals have now represented in different levels of government services including the highest ranks through reservation policy or tribal reservation.

And, after more than sixty years of planned socio-economic development, this section of the society has also largely been benefited. In fact, one of the objectives of planning for development of STs and SCs has been considerably achieved. That is to say, the certificate system of job reservation should now be completely abolished in order to enhance the social reputation of the children/descendants seeking jobs. This will close the social divide among the educated youths and the various social crimes that happened among various sections of the society.

In fact, India's job reservation policy creates enmity among different groups at the state and national levels. In fact, there is no real spirit of competition among a large number of candidates for the jobs. Therefore, there is now high degree of contradiction between job reservation policy and competitive examination system. Thus, there is now the need for rethinking on the job reservation policy.

It would, therefore, be rational to argue that as the tribal and other elites are enjoying the benefits of job reservations and that the job reservations have now created social divide and social enmity among the educated youths, the time is now ripe for India to think that the job reservation policy is socially harmful. And, the job reservation policy has thus disappointed a large section of the educated youths and also a large number of employees among different departments. Again, the job reservation for promotion is equally injurious to the already existing employees/officials as there is every chance of manipulation in the hands of the policy makers and implementing agencies or bodies. Thus, the policy of job reservation is now socially outdated and obsolete.

5. I am aware that the policy of dereservation in respect of job market may not be politically acceptable as the governments generally adopt public choice theory and policy for maximising votes from among the STs, SCs, OBC and other groups. And many other political parties also apply public choice theory and policy for maximising votes. But, the political choice that has now become irrational and that has also affected the sentiments of the larger section of the society may result in frequent change of power, defeating the very objective of economic and social justice.

If the policy of job reservation continues indefinitely, some sections of the society will be under the protection and patronage of the state or the government indefinitely. This will be a burden to the government also. Thus, India's democracy has emerged some elite groups who have enjoyed the benefits of job reservations. And their children also continue to get the benefits of job reservation enjoyed by their parents who have already crossed the average standard of living or perhaps amassed sufficient wealth. Thus, it is high time that the existing job reservation model for STs, SCs, OBC and others should be immediately stopped as there is alternative policy for generation of employment opportunities in the various programmes of development.

6. This requires proper legislation and judicious decision/rational judegement, and cooperation of all machineries of the state including the judiciary. In fact, it is essential to note that the job reservation policy for STs and SCs were enshrined/included in the Indian Constitution when the country was basically agrarian in terms of socio-economic structure and the tribals and SCs were alienated from the mainstream socio-economic life as they mainly dwelt in the forests and interior areas. The Indian economy is now open and the process of urbanisation takes place at a high pace.

And, there is now free movement of goods and services in different parts of the country. In fact, the concept of forest dwellers has now lost in terms of analytical and policy frameworks. There is also now good connectivity between the rural and urban areas and also between the hills and the valley areas. Thus, the general pattern of development has revealed that there is now entire socio-economic and cultural movement in upward direction. The subsistence sector or subsistence economy has now transformed into commodity production and expansion of market. Therefore, all the unemployed categories should now be treated equally irrespective of castes, class, etc.

Thus, the present job reservation policy implemented on the basis of SCs, STs and OBC should be phased out. And, the Governments need not be responsible for the continuous growth of population in different communities within the framework of job reservation. I am aware that the reproductive rights of the young couples is essential. And, the youths and young couples can take their own decision for a responsible parenthood. But the children of the elite group should not get undue advantage/facilities in the job market under the patronage of the state.

Thus, India including Manipur needs to evolve new economics of full employment policy. In fact, in a full employment society and economy there is no need for job reservation. Again, in a reforming economy, there is also no need for job reservation. In developing countries like India, and also in developing states like Manipur, "full employment" or near full employment can be achieved through huge investments for creation of infrastructure and expansion of maximum employment opportunities commensurate with the growth of labour force including the educated youths.

This is an area/field, which requires further research and political commitment. Orthodox and conservative economic policy cannot really address the basic issues of employment and development in the country and also in Manipur. In fact, job reservation will not increase social and economic efficiency in any part of the world. Therefore, it (the policy of job reservation) should now be closed or withdrawn for an efficient functioning of the next generation of the new political economy of development in India and also in Manipur.