RESERVATION

Dasu Kesava Rao On Sub-Categorisation of SC's in A.P.

The Andhra Pradesh Government's decision to categorise the Scheduled Caste population into four groups crowns a sustained struggle for justice by the Madigas, a predominant community, and a significant step in correcting disparities among the 59 listed categories.

A one-member commission, appointed by the Government last September, had classified these communities into A, B, C, D groups on the basis of backwardness and population and recommended that the Madigas in Group B be entitled to seven per cent of the public appointments and admission in educational institutions and the Mala group six per cent and two other groups one per cent each, adding up to 15 per cent set apart for the SCs.

Cobblers and tanners by traditional occupation, the Madigas have alleged that the Malas, another dominant community consisting mostly of agricultural labourers, had over the years cornered more benefits (due to the SCs) than their population merited whether in employment or. Education Even in politics, the Malas took away a major chunk of the elective posts.

Mr. Justice P. Ramachandra Raju, constituting the one-member commission, submitted his report to the Government on May 31 and the Chief Minister lost no time in referring it to a Cabinet sub-committee. The Cabinet accepted the report and followed it up with a Government Order giving immediate effect to the decision. The Madigas term the categorisation as winning only "half the battle" and demand political reservations and welfare schemes also for their uplift.

The Ramachandra Raju report vindicates the Madiga stand that the Malas had cornered more than their share of reservation benefits. It refers to the "disproportionate distribution" of reservation benefits in favour of the Mala group and Adi Andhra group compared to their population and to the fact that both the Madiga and Relli groups are "not adequately represented" either in public appointments or in educational institutions in proportion to their population.

The Madiga group accounts for 46.94 per cent of the total SC population (79.61 lakhs as per 1981 census) and the Mala group for 40.99 per cent.

Th Government referred to the Social Welfare Department, for further examination, some recommendations of the commission, which were outside its terms of reference. The commission suggested that the existing level of 15 per cent reservation for the SCs need not be enhanced and that the Dalit Christians should not” encroach" into the quota for the SCs until they were included in the Presidential order listing the communities.

Andhra Pradesh is the second State after Punjab to categorise the SCs and the move has been generally welcomed.

Markazi Jamatul Ulema Hind G.S. F.A. Qasmi on Reservation

L.K. Advani and Harkishan Singh Surjeet are reported to be opposed to any reservation on the basis of Caste and religion.

It is pertinent to point out that the 22 per cent reservations available to SC/STs since independence in legislatures, government services, promotions and educational institutions are all based on religion as only those castes have been picked out for this purpose which are Hindu by faith. A Hindu washer man is entitled to reservation under SC/ST while his Muslim counterpart is deprived of the same. The benefits of reservation under this category are not available to even a Hindu of SC/ST in case he/she embraces either Islam or Christianity.

Besides, there is special income tax provision for Hindu undivided families (HUF).

Are not these concessions, granted only to Hindus based on religions. Do these exceptions not amount to preferential treatment of those who profess faith in Hinduism and discrimination against other religious communities in the country?

Why have Mr. Advani and Mr. Surjeet turned a Nelson's eye to these glaring facts. It is not clear how Mr. Surjeet can champion secularism and at the same time join the communal bandwagon of Mr. Advani.

(Maulana Fuzail Ahmed Qasmi, General Secretary, Markazi Jamiat-Ulama-i-Hind, New Delhi).

All India Backward Muslim Morcha Letter to P.M., 26 December, 1996

Majority of Backward Muslim Caste (8.44% of total population) have been included in the OBC List of the Mandal Commission. In spite of adequate eligibility they are not getting their due share, whatever the reasons ... In order to elevate them educationally, economically and socially, this major chunk needs a reservation quota. The Representatives of All India Backward Muslim Morcha from various States have unanimously decided to demand fixation of 8.44% quota in education and services for Socially and Educationally Backward Muslims.