The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment appointed a three-member committee to revisit the criteria for 10% reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) in educational institutions and government jobs.
Need of the Committee:
The Supreme Court has observed that the the Centre cannot “pull out of thin air” the ₹8 lakh annual income limit to identify economically weaker section for providing 10% quota .
It questioned if the attempt was to “make unequals as equals”.
The apex court is hearing petitions challenging the government notice issued in July which provides for 10% EWS quota in NEET admissions.
About EWS Quota:
The Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act provides for 10% reservation in government jobs and
educational institutions for the economically weaker section in the unreserved category.
The Act amends Article 15 and 16 to provide for reservation based on economic backwardness.
More about EWS quota:
It is in addition to 50% reservation already provided to SC, ST and OBC communities.
Declaration of EWS is based on fulfilling of following criteria:
Income should be less than 8 Lakh per annum.
One should not have more than 5 acre farm land.
Home size should be less than 1000 sq. feet.
Positives of EWS reservation:
It provides legitimacy to already existing reservation. Now, universities won’t be segregated between merit candidates and reserved communities.
It is secular in nature and includes all religions: Muslims, Christians
Economic justice is the philosophy behind it. In an increasing economic society, class becomes a tool of oppression.
It address contemporary reservation movements like Jats reservation, Patel reservation.
8 Lakh is creamy layer identified in OBC reservation. Hence, 8 Lakh is justified as a basis of class criteria.
Concerns/drawbacks of EWS reservation:
It violates Indira Swahney judgement of Supreme court which applied 50% cap on the reservation.
Social justice has been the philosophy behind reservation. Upper caste are at the top of caste pyramid and doesn’t require any reservation.
It is not based on any scientific data. A survey of 450 educational institutions had found 28% students belonging to EWS section.
The criteria qualifies around 90-95% population.
The reservation doesn’t make any sense when jobs are on the rise in private sector. Public sector is already declining and not creating many jobs.
This reservation move can be abused by changing the economic status by selling property or showing lower income.
Conclusion:
Administration must ensure that non-deserving population doesn’t get the EWS certificate.
Genuine poor and needy section should get the opportunity.
