AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND THE RESERVATIONS SYSTEM

“Scheduled Caste, Unscheduled Change”  On pg. 95 of “Scheduled Castes, Unscheduled Change”, we learn that Charlis has been admitted into a top university. Neel is instantly impressed, but his distant relative, Kunjunni-mama, has other views. “Untouchable quota,” he remarks.

What is a quota?  Quota refers to a minimum number that is required by some organization or institution.

Affirmative Action  Affirmative action is a policy or practice that provides members of minority groups and women greater opportunities in employment, education, housing, and other areas of life.  Affirmative action not only forbids employers, landlords, and others from discriminating on the grounds of race, sex, religion, or other factors, but it also aims to actively encourage the recruitment, hiring, and promotion of members of minority groups and women.  Affirmative action policies or programs can exist in a variety of places, but particularly in employment (jobs) and in education (colleges/universities).

Reservations System in India  These programs in India guarantee that members of lower castes, and even untouchables will have opportunities that historically had been denied to them for thousands of years.  This policy is intended to make up for all the years of discrimination and injustice these groups have faced.  In areas of government and other public sectors of employment, a certain number of people from lower castes and Untouchables must be given jobs. India’s universities also must accept a certain number of applicants from these groups. There are also seats in the government held for these scheduled castes and tribes.

Reservations System in India  Not everyone in India is supportive of the Reservations system. As you might imagine, people in higher castes believe the Reservation System unfairly favors scheduled castes. Medical students in India protest the Reservations System.

Affirmative Action in the US  In the U.S., affirmative action is legal, but it is highly controversial. It has received the most attention in college and graduate school admissions. A handful of cases have gone all the way to the Supreme Court to determine whether schools can have affirmative action programs that give advantages to disadvantaged groups  What are some groups who have been disadvantaged in the US?  Unlike in India, quota systems are illegal in the US. In other words, a university cannot set aside a certain number of spots for any disadvantaged group, no matter how disadvantaged they might have been or continue to be. However, colleges and universities can consider race in their admissions policies.  The reason this is allowed, according to the Supreme Court, is not to undo or fight back against past discrimination, but rather because “diversity” is considered a compelling reason to allow this type of policy.

What do you think??