Abolishing reservation policy

Abolishing reservation policy

Is this the correct time to review the reservation policy in the country as today we have an 'Adivasi' holding the highest Constitutional post of the nation? Dr BR Ambedkar, the chairman of the Drafting Committee of Constitution of India once said that the day when an Adivasi woman becomes the President of India, the country should do away with the reservation policy. This will pave the way for equal opportunity to all. The provision of reservation was included in the Constitution since the beginning to take SCs, STs and OBCs along for an initial 10 years' period. However, due to political and other compulsions, the policy continued for 75 long years. Reservation forever is not healthy for any nation. Everyone should be given equal opportunity instead of reservation for few so that everyone participates and contributes in nation building. The Constitution has provided opportunity to the deprieved in order to achieve the principles of democracy so that the deeply-rooted class and caste discrimination in Indian society is addressed but it cannot continue indefinitely. It is a matter of debate whether the goals of reservation have been achieved or not after 75 years but one thing is certain that reservation has encouraged separation and deprivation. I personally feel that the reservation system should be abolished as an 'Adivasi' woman will soon be writing history by becoming the President of the world's largest and most vibrant economy.

Debajit Goswami

Guwahati