Decoding The Reservation Conundrum
By Dr. Mushtaq Rather
Large-scale public discussions are currently being witnessed in public forums on the most contentious issue of reservation in J&K. There is no denying the reality that extending the contours of reservation to the justified sections of society has visibly raised their living standards. However, the deep-rooted discrimination and alienation the unreserved category youth are currently experiencing have compelled them to vent their resentment against the disproportionate quota for reserved category candidates in government jobs and in admissions to premier institutions.
The issue of reservation is compounded even more in a place like Jammu and Kashmir, where people majorly rely on government jobs as the private sector is still in its nascent stage, besides being highly unorganized. The youth, therefore, have pinned their hopes on the government sector. The issue, and a justified one, is the limited carrying capacity of the government sector to accommodate the selected few who emerge victorious from cut-throat competition in a highly level playing field. This is even aggravating the core issue of unemployment as the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is leading the chart with one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.
Controversial Incorporations in Reservation Rules 2005
The Parliament, in February 2024, approved reservations for the Pahari ethnic tribe, Padari tribe, Kolis, and Gadda Brahmins during the budget session. Later, the UT administration of Jammu and Kashmir, in March 2024, approved the proposal of the Social Welfare Department to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules, 2005, in light of:
Four new tribes—the Pahari ethnic group, Padari tribe, Kolis, and........
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