Reservations have been the curse of this nation. But for the advent of the economic reforms in1991 thank to the foresight of PV Narasimha Rao, the forward castes would have all left the country by now and enriched other nations.
Nowadays, there is a proposal being mooted for providing SC/ST and physically challenged children, free education in private schools under the Right to Education Act’. This is not at all acceptable.
Making economic background as the criteria would have been understandable. But playing the caste card once again would only further polarize society.
Enough freebies are already being doled out. This absurd demand would make it easy for an SC/ST student from a rich family to avail of free education whereas a poor child from an upper caste would have to fend for herself. There should be a level playing field for all. But not on the basis of playing the caste card, time and again.
‘Reservations’ have outplayed their utility. If India is to become a super power, this menace should be done away with first. But then it is unlikely in the regime of a Prime Minister, who used his status as a ‘BC’ to good effect in getting elected.
Kiran Sharma
