The current topic of discussion in Mumbai centres around reservation and the ongoing agitation by the Marathas. Without going into the merits or demerits of the case the broader issue is how long the country can continue its policy of placating various sections. Aspiring to be Vikshit Bharat, or Developed India, by 2047, can the country still persist with its reservation policies? After 100 years, if these policies are continued, it will reflect poorly on the government and imply that, significant segments of the population have not benefitted from the country’s growth.
It is worth recalling that when the reservation policy was first introduced, it was intended as a temporary measure to provide the disadvantaged sections of the population with an opportunity to advance in life. Successive governments have continued with these policies, with only minor adjustments. Should reservation be continued ad infinitum, or should steps now be taken to phase them out over the next couple of decades?
One of the oft-repeated arguments by those clamouring for reservation is the lack of opportunities in Tier II,III, and IV cities and towns. This lack of opportunities, whether in education or employment, forms the backbone of the dispute. This is indeed true, as enterprises are not spread widely enough across the length and breadth of the country. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, soon after Independence, introduced five-year plans. Industrial policies were also framed to prevent lopsided regional development. Industrial licences were granted on the condition that factories would be set up in remote areas to promote all-round development in their vicinity. A classic example was the licence to produce the iconic Ambassador car, which required the plant to be established in Uttarpara, West Bengal. Like the Ambassador, these five-year plans were eventually phased out.
One cannot dispute the fact that the conditions of the rural population, as well as disadvantaged communities in smaller towns and villages, cannot be compared to those of minority groups who have enjoyed a better standard of living over the past several decades. However, the solution does not lie in job or education reservations. What is required is the creation of a level playing field across sectors. Education can be a great equaliser, restoring some semblance of parity between the haves and the have-nots. Education is a concurrent subject, with both the states and the Centre empowered to make policies, and various governments have attempted to address this by opening schools. However, it is not simply a matter of constructing brick-and-mortar buildings and calling them schools: many of these are still lacking across the country. The quality of education provided in rural schools or those run by panchayats and municipalities in urban areas is deplorable.
One cannot compare the education received by the children of elite families with that of children from rural households, where the next meal is often uncertain. While many states do offer free education to some extent, the standard of that education leaves much to be desired. Both the states and the Centre need to focus on education, and, much like the Green Revolution, an Education Revolution must be ushered in over the next one or two decades. Technology can be used extensively to bridge the gap in how education is delivered. The privatisation of municipal and panchayat schools could also be considered. Education alone forms the backbone of the economy. Only when this realisation takes root will people start enjoying equal opportunities to compete in the marketplace.
There is no dearth of funds with either the states or the Centre. Education, upgrading, and upskilling from the primary level upwards must be prioritised nationwide. If necessary, priorities can be recalibrated until the level of education across the country is uniform. The government can also implement checks and balances, such as addressing low attendance during the monsoon, when children are often pulled out of school by farming families to work as helpers in many parts of the country. Instead of celebrating politicians cutting ribbons at new projects, greater awareness about the importance of quality education must be propagated at the grassroots. Rather than focusing solely on jobs – many of which may be displaced by AI in the years to come – groundwork should be laid to help enterprises flourish in rural areas. Increased enterprise in rural regions will also help reduce the trend of rapid urbanisation.
Once a cut-off date for de-reservation is fixed, the government must do its utmost to ensure a level playing field and provide equal opportunities for everyone.