The ... reservation in Services has not reached the targeted level ... for SCs and STs respectively. Out of the 40 per cent population which live below poverty line, according to government statistics, 80 and 90 per cent of them belong to SCs and STs.
It is this section of SCs and STs which suffers from poverty, segregation, discrimination and untouchability. Even though we see some progress here and there, it is far from satisfactory,.
The concept of creamy layer does not apply in the case of SCs and STs. Even the Supreme Court which coined the phrase ... has itself agreed that creamy layer does not apply to SCs and STs. Whatever may be the position, SCs and STs are looked down as untouchables.
Even today they do not get a house on rent in a decent colony ..
.. By helping them, by giving them confidence i.e. land to the tiller, plot and house to homeless under Indira Awas scheme.
Giving land and pattas, liquidating the debt burden are some of the programmes which converted them into the vote banks.
Reservation is not charity. Reservation is a mechanism to help the suppressed, depressed,
discriminated and segregated sections of society. As long as this disparity exists the mechanism has to continue.
... Effective implementation is the essence of ...developmental programmes. Allocation of funds in proportion to their population, special component plans (SCP) for SCs and tribal sub-plans (TSP) for STs; funds for the implementing agencies and proper implementation without diversion are important to improve the condition ...
The government deliberately has not recognised reservation at higher level ... As such entry of SCs and STs at the higher level is blocked ...
Recently through a Constitutional amendment this barrier was removed. But the government has, adroitly scuttled the Constitutional amendment by restricting promotion at higher level through its official memorandum. The official memorandum is unconstitutional and should be withdrawn ... (Source: The Nation and the World, 16 September, 1998)