Verdict of Supreme Court on OBC quota is out. Apex court has tried to maintain a good balance between opportunity to merit and upliftment of backwards. When a job is done in a balanced way then in a society like Indian society, no one is going to be fully satisfied and happy. Even otherwise politicians as a group always think about furthering their self interests even at the cost of the country. Hence they are dissatisfied at the balancing aspects of the judgment. A certain section of the media is also trying to sing the tune of their political masters.

Two main aspects of the judgment are being shown as the great obstacles in the path of the upliftment of the OBC. Court has clearly excluded the creamy layer of OBC from the benefits of the reservation. Another aspect, which is aimed to maintain a certain quality, is that court has wished to fix a certain cut off for OBC too for admissions. A section of media, apart from politicians, is trying to portray these aspects as obstacles for OBC. And there is a certainty that in near future, politicians will try to negate the effect of these two aspects. But the question arises, are these aspects really obstacles?

First we have to understand that the reasons behind reservation to SC/ST and OBC are different. SC/ST section of the society was oppressed and exploited by others for long and hence they lagged behind. It is the case of exploitation and deprivation. On the other hand OBC were never oppressed and exploited. They were just financially backward for different reasons. This long financial backwardness created their social backwardness too. They were never ostracized and stigmatized like SC/ST. Hence if a section of them has improved its financial condition and has moved up on social ladder, then why it should keep getting the benefit of the reservation. We very well know that there are certain castes which are socially, politically and financially no more backward. Now they can afford the best facilities for their further growth without any crutches. If they keep on getting benefited by the crutches of reservation then naturally they are stopping the growth of more backwards and hence depriving other backwards only. So the logic of equal opportunities, which was applied between forwards and backwards while giving reservations, is applicable here also. So why politicians want to extend reservations to this creamy layer and want to deprive the most backwards among OBC?

Court has favoured a certain cut off for OBC for the admissions in education institutions. Veerappa Moily committee set up by present day UPA government also favoured this type of cut off and in fact recommended a formula too. It said that cut for the OBC should be 10% less than the cut off for general category. This provision clearly looks logical and provides a balance between merit and inclusiveness. Again "drawbacks" are being shown of this provision too. It is being said that when in SC/ST category about 50% seats remain vacant despite no cut off marks then there is same danger for OBC too. These people are forgetting the objective of the reservation.

Reservation was not envisioned just as a tool for politicians to garner votes as it has become now. It was envisioned for the over all growth of the backward section of the society. It was not implemented as a permanent crutch to these people. It was implemented to make them as capable as others. Just imagine when even not so capable people join an education institution, how they will pass out? Then some other politician will bring the quota there too, to make it mandatory that every year a minimum number of reserved category people should be passed out. When they are passed out then they will have great difficulty in finding jobs because of their lack of capabilities and then there will be quota for them in private jobs too.

Then there will be quota for their promotions too. This way these people will never be able to enhance their capabilities and fully realize them. In fact this situation will create a stereotype about these people, in the minds of other sections of the society too and the capable people among the backwards will suffer due to this stereotype. It is very clear from the objections of politicians on these two aspects that they don't have larger interests of backwards in mind. Opposition to creamy layer exclusion is there because most of the OBC politicians belong to this creamy layer. This creamy layer has its own lobby due to its political, social and financial power and this doesn't want other backwards to come to their level. Same way politicians oppose the cut off provision because they don't want that backwards should be able to stand on their own feet. If they become self dependent then they won't need politicians and politicians will lose their captive vote bank. In fact if these politicians really want backwards to progress then they should provide scholarships to all children of these sections from the school level, so that these children too can afford the facilities which forward section of the society does. If they cant afford and avail best facilities at school level then how they will go to colleges and be benefited by reservation there? This way they not only progress further but will do it by their own efforts and capabilities without nay crutches. This will be the real upliftment, which will fill them with self pride.

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