Recent announcement of Jaat reservation in OBC by cabinet elicited
varied reactions. Jaats are termed as ‘dominant caste’ in North India by noted
sociologists like M N Srinivas and have assumed position of ‘bullock
capitalists’ in post-green-revolution era. They have, for long, dominated the political
arena in state of Haryana where Jaat reservation movement gained utmost
momentum in recent times. Recent announcement regarding reservation has also
raised some fundamental issues vis-à-vis reservation policy itself. Many have
argued about the very notion of reservation and its efficacy in past 65 years.
Reservation may be a symbolic victory, but its benefits are likely to be reaped
by a small section of the purported beneficiaries. Benefits percolate to the
bottom of pyramid in a community too slowly and it might well be a time to
reflect upon this policy afresh. Some other rational criterion like ‘economic
criteria’ may be pondered upon in a re-engineered model of social empowerment
to implement concept of reservation.
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