Will reservation in pvt sector stem naxalism?

INTRODUCTION:

• Reservation for SC/ST’s in public education and employment , came within the constitution, immideatly after independence. However, OBC’s , were given reservation in public employment and education much later post the mandal commission report.
• B.R Ambedkar , was one of the vocal supporters of reservation for the marginalized sections in the private sector too.
• Recently, one of the senior govt ministers made a comment that reservation for marginalized and excluded in pvt jobs and education would help mitigate naxalism and hence the issue has been discussed.
• Since 2004, the corporates have claimed to have followed a policy of affirmative action,success of which is not clear
• Last month, the national commission for backward classes has recommended to the central government to pass a legislation ,making it mandatory for the pvt sector to reserve 27pc in education and employment for the OBC’s

HOW GOOD IS THE CORPORATE POLICY?

• According to experts, its not very clear, whether the affirmative action policy of corporates has brought any tangible results, barring a few exceptions like the Tata Group
• The other corporate entities have not really come out with clear guidelines or programmes to educate, employ or ensure employability of the prospective employable youth

IS THE RESERVATION NEEDED:

Critics View:

• Instead of reservation, we need to improve the quality of education, quality of skills that is imparted to the youth
• Enhance the growth of employment in public sector and private sector and ensure that more jobs are created through positive policy interventions
• Reservation alone, will not solve the issue

Proponents view:

• Unemployment rate , according to NSSO survey 2011 is highest for SC’s at 13pc vis-à-vis other classes and castes
• According to official estimates, (2011-12), the regular salaried non-farm employment in government sector is 18-19pc and 82pc in the private sector. So, when there is lesser number of government jobs vis-à-vis private jobs, how can there be equitable distribution
• Further, the education is privatized at a faster rate, leaving the government education in poor state. Majority of the backward classes and SC/ST’s do not have access to private education
• Whatever may be the size of job growth, equitability can be ensured only after adequate representation

Counter-argument to proponents’ view:

• The critics, disagree with the statistics saying that, out of 7pc of the jobs reserved for Scheduled tribes, in past year only 3.5 pc of the jobs were filled. So, it would not be wholly correct to suggest that, there is lack of jobs in the public sector as there are sizeable number of unfilled vacancies

• Therefore, the state should focus more increasing its presence. It should improve the quality of education in public sector, create more jobs through PSU’s, government colleges and government companies, rather than forcing the private sector to provide reservation.

RESERVATION AND NAXALISM:

• Lack of good quality jobs in naxal affected areas is only one of the reasons for youth getting attracted to naxalism
• According to MHA reports and other estimates, when Salwa Judum was at its peak, the youth getting attracted to Maoism was also at its peak
• Therefor, it is state repression, lack of good quality infrastructure and schools etc which are primary drivers of naxalism
• Moreover, local tribals and local population do not want corporate companies to acquire their land. Eg: Vedanta
• Moreover, it is not very clear whether the local people there want private jobs or not

CONCLUSION:

• There seems to be no real link between jobs and naxalism. Therefore, we may be missing the point when we try to bring prosperity by providing jobs through reservation. There has to be more research on the causes of naxalism and the State has to take note of that. Further, there has to be more consensus on provision of reservation in private jobs and education at a national, regional and local level.