The policy of reservation for jobs and services, as guaranteed in the Constitution, was intended to continue for as long as necessary.
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It is both a moral obligation and a constitutional responsibility to promote the educational and economic interests of the poor, particularly the weaker sections of society. If these sections are to take their rightful place, the process of their social advancement must be accelerated. At the same time, steps must be taken to ensure that merit is not undermined and that no section of society faces discrimination in the process.
The policy of reservation for jobs and services, as guaranteed in the Constitution, was intended to continue “for as long as necessary.” However, it is important to ensure that genuine merit is not sacrificed in the name of reservation. If opportunities for merit are denied, it will inevitably lead to brain drain, creating an unhealthy environment for the growth of society. Unfortunately, it has also been observed that vested interests exert pressure on the issue of reservation, thereby defeating the very purpose for which the policy was introduced. Unless proper guidelines and rules are framed and strictly implemented, the original intent of reservation will remain unfulfilled.
Reservation for the economically weaker sections is meant to be an additional support, not a lifelong dependency. While the government seeks to help the disadvantaged stand on their own feet, reservation must not become a permanent crutch. Presently, the implementation of reservation on a “tribe-basis” has enabled affluent and powerful sections within tribes to monopolise the benefits. For instance, well-placed families with economic and political power are able to send their children to the best educational institutions. As a result, they are far better equipped to secure reserved opportunities, while their less privileged counterparts within the same tribe remain deprived. This unfairly allows the affluent class to dominate the system, leaving the truly underprivileged unheard and excluded.
It is further noted that many so-called backward tribes enjoy double benefits, claiming both from the reserved quota and the unreserved quota. This practice is unjust and contradicts the principle of equal opportunity.
The entire system requires fresh thinking and a comprehensive review. The present reservation policy has failed to prevent exploitation and discrimination. The State Government must urgently re-examine the policy, protect the interests of the genuinely poor and backward across all tribes, and ensure that privileges are not monopolized by the politically and economically powerful.
The reservation policy in its current form is incapable of serving its purpose. A comprehensive review is needed to ensure fairness, meritocracy, and equitable representation.
Suggestions for Reform:
· Focus reservation benefits on genuine economic and social backwardness, not blanket tribal affiliation.
· Prioritise the economically weaker sections (EWS) across all tribes.
· Exclude the “creamy layer” from reservation benefits through income and asset verification.
· De-reserve backlog vacancies within a calendar year, if no qualified candidate is available.
· Ensure equal qualification standards, cut-off marks, and age criteria for all candidates.
· End “reservation within reservation” by equally sharing the 80% quota for Scheduled Tribes of Nagaland.
· Consolidate reservations into a unified, need-based framework to prevent imbalance.
· Guarantee transparency in recruitment, with equal educational criteria for all.
· Restrict candidates to compete either under the reserved quota or general quota, not both.
· Mandate a review of the reservation policy every five years to ensure its relevance and effectiveness.
· Reservation must remain a tool of justice and empowerment for the disadvantaged, not a means of exploitation for the privileged. Only by reforming the system can it fulfill its true purpose of building an equitable and merit-based society.
Thapimo Semy