http://www.deccanherald.com/content/88475/not-advisable.html
Sunday 15 August 2010
Not advisable
''A system of incentives is a better idea.''
The idea of mandating reservations in the private sector has for long
been a subject of public debate. But the issue has never been
consistently in the forefront of national attention, and has engaged
it only fitfully, sometimes during election campaigns or when there
happens to be a sudden dearth of controversial issues. The occasional
debates have not thrown up any wide consensus either. Though there are
some people who still question the very need for continuance of
reservations in government employment and educational institutions,
they are in a minority. Affirmative action as an instrument of public
policy is widely supported. Questions are sometimes raised about
implementation. One major criticism is that the truly deserving do not
always benefit from reservations, as opportunities are mostly availed
of by the better off among the weaker sections.
But the proposal to introduce job reservations will invite greater
opposition, not only from industry and business managements but from
others too. The department of industrial policy and promotion under
the Union ministry of industry and commerce has proposed that
companies benefiting from various government incentives should reserve
about 5 per cent of their jobs for scheduled castes and scheduled
tribes. Some other ministries are also considering the move. Industry
bodies have been asked for their views. Industry has in the past not
been responsive to the proposal. It has also been pointed out that in
some states the representation for SCs and STs in the private sector
is not less than 15 per cent now. The figures vary from sector to
sector, and it is admitted that representation in new sectors like IT
is low.
It may not be advisable to force a reservation regime as it will be
seen as compromising the principle of merit which makes the private
sector competitive. More effective implementation of social and
educational policies will better equip those belonging to the weakest
sections to compete with others and reduce the need for reservations.
Equity and efficiency are not simple categories that can be
counterposed to each other in a country where long-persisting
discrimination has warped society and individuals. They cannot even be
always viewed separately. But mandating reservations in the private
sector may turn out to be counter-productive. A system of incentives
may perhaps be a better idea.
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