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Discussion on Reservation

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Recently there was a debate on the RESERVATION issue in Vinoth Ramachandra's blog between Manasi and sao tunyi. The blog post was on health care and as the debate diverted from the main topic (although the relation between the two are also topic for discussion), it was suggested that the discussion be carried over to another site. So here we are, open to anyone who would like to join in and comment on the issue of reservation.

To see what already transpired in Vinoth's blog, click here
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Sao Tunyi said…
Anti-Reservationists argue that 50% Reservation is too much as the NSSO data (2000) shows that OBC population is only 41% and not 52% as the Mandal Commission Report estimated.

In his article ‘Doubts over data’, T.K RajaLakshmi argues that there are serious problems with the use of NSSO data to estimate OBC population. The NSSO 1999-2000 was not primarily to count OBC population, but by taking samples of different social groups, it tries to identify key indicators for employment and unemployment. The OBC population derived at was therefore just an estimate and not enumeration of the proportion of the OBC population to the total population. The NSSO admits that!! Same for National Family Health Surveys.

Except for ST population, the other OBC and SC groups are scattered and are impossible to count, unless there is a decennial census-like exercise to count which will take 4-5 years. The Mandal Commission makes use of the 1931 and estimated the OBC population to be 52%. The Commission clarifies that by offering a few thousand jobs to OBC candidates; it would not be possible to take 52% of the population forward.

Some others argue that OBC population is 60-70%, but I’m not aware of any such official figures in recent times. The census’ caste wise counting was stopped after 1931.

However, going back to the NSSO figures give valuable insights. Those who use 41% to oppose reservation don’t mention this. Rajalakshmi notes that in that NSSO round,
“Upper-caste Hindus, who make up 37% of the urban population, accounted for 66% of all non-technical subject graduates, 65% of medical graduates, 67% of engineering and technical graduates and 62% of graduates in agricultural sciences. In the total sample of 2.24 lakh persons, 1,359 had engineering degrees, 908 (66.8%) of them upper-caste Hindus and 202 OBCs (Hindu). Of the 535 doctors in the sample, 350 (65%) were upper-caste Hindus and only 56 were Hindu OBCs. Among the 17,501 non-technical graduates, 11,529(65%) were upper-caste Hindus and 2,402 were OBCs”.

50% Reservation is no way too much.
April 30, 2010 at 10:29 AM
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