09-05-2006, 01:12 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Quota as affirmative tool has failed: Report </b>
Pioneer.com
Rajeev Ranjan Roy | New Delhi
More than 13 years after the implementation of the Mandal Commission report, the Government's quota policy has turned out to be an abysmal failure. The latest Government statistics leads to the startling conclusion that quota as an affirmative action may need serious consideration.
The figures show that other backward classes (OBCs) account for only 3.9 per cent of the Central Government services, notwithstanding 27 per cent quota for them since 1993.
The report assumes significance in the backdrop of repeated demands by various social groups that the Government should review the impact of quota as an affirmative action.
The figures with the Union Social Justice & Empowerment Ministry put the share of OBCs in Group 'A' services at 3.9 per cent. There are only 3,090 OBC officials in this category, an eye-opener for the proponents of the quota policy as an affirmative means to bring parity in society. The Department of Personnel and Training compiled the statistics.
"Even after 13 years of quota for the OBCs in Government jobs, their percentage is far below 27 per cent. Since the social, economic and academic status of OBCs are much better than that of the scheduled castes and tribes, their share in the jobs should have been much better," a senior Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry official said.
"The figures suggest that there are serious chinks in the Government's reservation policy. It is either not being effectively implemented or there is a shortage of suitable candidates among OBCs, who could make it to the competitive examinations. At this rate, the quota as an affirmative tool would lose its relevance," the official added.
In the Central Government's Group 'B' services, the OBCs account for only 2.3 per cent. There are only 3123 OBC officials in this category, while in Group 'D' category, there are 1,06,309 officials accounting for 5.2 per cent.
In the case of SCs, they account for only 12.2 per cent in Group 'A' services against the quota of 15 per cent. The STs' share stands at 4.1 per cent.
Though there is a two per cent improvement over 9.09 per cent in the case of SC and 2.53 in ST in 1991, Ministry officials feel that a lot needs to be done to enable them to carve a niche for themselves in the service sector on their own.
SC/ST students have reserved seats up to 22.5 per cent in all academic institutions, including Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), and all other Central universities. The fact that hardly any percentage of SC/ST candidates apply for jobs under the general category is "a reflection on the effectiveness of all affirmative measures being taken at the grassroots level".
What gives the Ministry officials a sense of satisfaction is the fact that the percentage of SCs in Group 'B' category services stands at 14.5 against 11.82 in 1991. Among Group 'C' Central Government employees, SCs account for 16.9 per cent. There is a slight improvement in the figure compared to 15.65 per cent in 1991.
Even the percentage of STs in Group 'C' services is 6.7, a marked improvement over 4.98 per cent in 1991. Their share in Group 'D' services is only 6.7 per cent. STs account for only 4.1 and 4.6 per cent in Group 'A' and 'B' Government services
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Pioneer.com
Rajeev Ranjan Roy | New Delhi
More than 13 years after the implementation of the Mandal Commission report, the Government's quota policy has turned out to be an abysmal failure. The latest Government statistics leads to the startling conclusion that quota as an affirmative action may need serious consideration.
The figures show that other backward classes (OBCs) account for only 3.9 per cent of the Central Government services, notwithstanding 27 per cent quota for them since 1993.
The report assumes significance in the backdrop of repeated demands by various social groups that the Government should review the impact of quota as an affirmative action.
The figures with the Union Social Justice & Empowerment Ministry put the share of OBCs in Group 'A' services at 3.9 per cent. There are only 3,090 OBC officials in this category, an eye-opener for the proponents of the quota policy as an affirmative means to bring parity in society. The Department of Personnel and Training compiled the statistics.
"Even after 13 years of quota for the OBCs in Government jobs, their percentage is far below 27 per cent. Since the social, economic and academic status of OBCs are much better than that of the scheduled castes and tribes, their share in the jobs should have been much better," a senior Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry official said.
"The figures suggest that there are serious chinks in the Government's reservation policy. It is either not being effectively implemented or there is a shortage of suitable candidates among OBCs, who could make it to the competitive examinations. At this rate, the quota as an affirmative tool would lose its relevance," the official added.
In the Central Government's Group 'B' services, the OBCs account for only 2.3 per cent. There are only 3123 OBC officials in this category, while in Group 'D' category, there are 1,06,309 officials accounting for 5.2 per cent.
In the case of SCs, they account for only 12.2 per cent in Group 'A' services against the quota of 15 per cent. The STs' share stands at 4.1 per cent.
Though there is a two per cent improvement over 9.09 per cent in the case of SC and 2.53 in ST in 1991, Ministry officials feel that a lot needs to be done to enable them to carve a niche for themselves in the service sector on their own.
SC/ST students have reserved seats up to 22.5 per cent in all academic institutions, including Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), and all other Central universities. The fact that hardly any percentage of SC/ST candidates apply for jobs under the general category is "a reflection on the effectiveness of all affirmative measures being taken at the grassroots level".
What gives the Ministry officials a sense of satisfaction is the fact that the percentage of SCs in Group 'B' category services stands at 14.5 against 11.82 in 1991. Among Group 'C' Central Government employees, SCs account for 16.9 per cent. There is a slight improvement in the figure compared to 15.65 per cent in 1991.
Even the percentage of STs in Group 'C' services is 6.7, a marked improvement over 4.98 per cent in 1991. Their share in Group 'D' services is only 6.7 per cent. STs account for only 4.1 and 4.6 per cent in Group 'A' and 'B' Government services
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