http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/-Divide-OBCs-into-subgroups-says-govt-panel/articleshow/10685045.cms
Divide OBCs into subgroups, says govt panel
Subodh Ghildiyal, TNN | Nov 11, 2011, 01.59AM IST
NEW DELHI: A government panel wants the Centre to initiate legal
measures to split the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) into subgroups
based on their socio-economic status, in what is the first show of
official intent to categorize the monolith group.
The panel has suggested that the mass of thousands of backward castes
presently part of an umbrella OBC list be divided into distinct
categories of "backward" and "most backward".
The landmark initiative, with implications for OBC mobilization and
apportioning of reservation benefits, may gather momentum from next
year if the government accepts it as a policy objective.
The government's plans may invite resistance from the dominant
sections since it will shrink their share in the 27% reservation pie
to a fraction proportionate to their share of the total OBC
population.
The government's plan to divide the OBCs will be a boon for the weaker
"backwards" who are far more numerous but are unable to compete with
the well-off backwards for quota benefits because of their education
handicap.
The 'quota within OBC quota' thinking is in line with the views of
National Commission for Backward Classes, as reported by TOI on May
27. The sub-categorization of OBCs will change the way quota politics
has been run since the advent of Mandal commission which introduced
job reservation for OBCs in central bodies. The Mandal policy turned
OBCs into a crucial political force, forcing a churn in the upper
caste-dominated politics. However, the OBC monolith has started
disintegrating because of the resentment among the Most Backward
Classes (MBCs) over the domination of the "creamy layer". The last few
years have seen them emerge from the shadow of Yadavs and Kurmis to be
a factor in the electoral success of Mayawati and Nitish Kumar.
While the sub-division is already in force in many states, successive
regimes at the Centre have avoided following suit for fear of backlash
from the dominant groups. It is to be seen if the UPA will keep the
recommendation of the Planning Commission's subgroup on 'empowerment
of OBCs' as part of its policy objective for the new plan period.
NCBC chairman M N Rao had told TOI that the treatment of OBCs as a
monolith had led to iniquitous distribution of quota benefits with
dominant groups monopolizing the fruit of reservation. Advocating
sub-division, he said, "A stonecutter and a goldsmith cannot be lumped
together and asked to compete for a job." A preliminary discussion had
earlier taken place between the commission and the social justice
ministry.
MBCs have long complained that with their lower level of education,
they are unable to compete with the strong backward castes. They have
argued that weaker castes be asked to compete only against each other
to ensure a levelplaying field for quota benefits. Significantly, the
Congress-a late comer to OBC politics-has taken baby steps to court
the MBCs. Unable to effectively woo the dominant groups, the party is
trying to reach out to MBCs in the upcoming UP polls with a spike in
party tickets for their members.
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/
PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com
TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/
Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/
No comments:
Post a Comment