SC categorization - for whose cause?
"All of us do not have equal abilities, but all of us should have
equal opportunities to cultivate our talents".
The recent show of strength by MRPS to demand SC categorisation and
the subsequent stray incidents affecting Law and Order once again drew
the attention of politics over the SC categorisation demand.
The 16 years of protracted "Dandora Udyamam" popularly known as "SC
Categorization Movement" has been witnessing many ups and downs. It
lost its sheen, intensity and seriousness amidst the movements for
both separate state and united Andhra Pradesh. Both Madigas of
Telangana and Malas of coastal Andhra believe that the solution to the
issue of SC categorization could only be found in bifurcation of the
State. But at the same time both the communities are at loggerheads
over the categorization. The attitude of the Madiga leadership in
dealing with the issue is also raising misgivings and evoking critical
comments over its commitment to achieve the objectives of SC
categorization movement.
During the "initial stages" of the categorization movement the Madiga
leadership opposed the demand for separate state under the premise
that an argument in favor of separate state might dilute the demand
for categorization. At the same time Madigas of Telangana region
feared that the benefits of the categorization would be accosted by
educationally better placed Madigas of coastal region. Though, Madiga
Dandora leadership deliberated these regional inequalities among the
Madigas at the start of the movement, it deliberately kept aside the
demand for separate state with an excuse that such demands would
divert the attention from the main demand of categorization.
While, Madiga leadership is undecided over the demand for separate
state, Malas of coastal region favored the bifurcation of the state
saying that a separate state is the answer to end categorization
problem permanently and justice would also be done to Daliths in a
separate state. The demand for separate state from Malas emanates from
two aspects one to stall the categorization and to make moves towards
political empowerment of Malas. The demand for separate state is a
strategy of Malas to end the categorization permanently.
Bifurcation of the state without solving the categorization would not
help the Madigas of coastal Andhra in anyway, as the dominant Malas
would corner the benefits. In the backdrop of varied demands from
Malas of coastal Andhra, Madigas of Telangana (both for separate
state) and Madigas of Coastal Andhra (for united state) over separate
state issue, the Madiga Dandora leadership too uncertain over its
stand on separate state issue.
Of late, Manda Krishna Madiga, the leader of SC categorization
Movement opined that Daliths should not miss the opportunity to lead
the separate state movement to capture political power in the separate
state. His interest to support the cause of Telangana raised
suspicions among the Madigas of other regions that their leader is
putting the interest of his cast at stake before his political
ambitions. There is a strong belief that he is neglecting the
categorization demand which benefits the Madigas of all regions to
pursue his own political interests. The promise of KCR, the leader of
TRS, to make a dalith first Chief Minister of Telangana state seemed
to have prompted Manda Krishna to both support the cause of Telangana
to pursue his own ambitions at the cost of interests of his own caste.
He seemed to have lost reasoning that achievement of a separate state
before the categorization was materialized would in no way benefit the
Madigas of coastal region. At the same they cannot achieve their
demand for categorization in a separate state as the dominant Malas of
coastal region would not allow them to succeed in their endeavor.
Therefore, it would be appropriate for Madiga Dandora leadership to
achieve SC categorization before the State is subjected for a split.
At the same time, though the Malas are in minority as per their
numbers concern, they are politically and economically strong to
corner the present reservation benefits from majority Madigas in
Telangana region. Hence, it would beneficial for Telangana Madigas to
achieve categorization before the state is split.
The demand for categorization highlights the shortcomings of our
reservation policy. The demand for categorization by Madigas stems
from their apprehensions that the politically and economically strong
Malas corner the reservation benefits. However, the demand brought
conflicts between the Madigas aspiration and Malas domination.
The demand for categorisation demonstrates the fact that the
reservation system is essentially a zero sum game. The reservation
policy was never meant to be implemented in perpetuity. At the time of
its origin, it was supposed to be in force for a decade. However, it
turned out to be in force for eternity due to various reasons of vote
bank politics. Even, for those covered by reservations, the system
hasn't worked as premeditated. In all categories, reservation benefits
have come to be cornered by a dominant creamy layer. And demand for SC
categorisation emanates from one such reason.
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