Rationalizing Reservation

If any issue has assumed the most prominence in J&K's Political discourse since the elected government took power, it is that of reservations in jobs. The recent data presented in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on the distribution of job quotas between Kashmir and Jammu regions reveals a glaring imbalance. One can't deny the rationale of affirmative action to uplift marginalized communities and create equitable opportunities, but it can't be done at the expense of the other communities, be it in the Valley or in Jammu. It is clear that the current policy appears to disproportionately favor one region over the other. This has rightly triggered a political chorus in the Valley for an urgent review and rationalization of the reservation system to ensure fairness and justice for all.

The figures tabled in the Assembly showed all Scheduled Caste (SC) beneficiaries from Jammu, and not a single recipient from Kashmir. Similarly, 85.3% of those benefiting under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category are from Jammu, and only 14.7% from the Valley. Ditto for Economic Weaker Section (EWS) category: 92.3% of the beneficiaries are from Jammu and a mere 7.7% are from Kashmir. Jammu-based candidates also dominate across other categories, such as the Actual Line of Control (ALC) and International Border (IB).

This certainly is shocking especially considering that Kashmir comprises around 55% of J&K's population, as per the 2011 census. True, reservation policies are designed to uplift those in need, regardless of their geographical location, but the current arrangement is clearly skewed heavily in favor of Jammu at the cost of Kashmiri-speaking populations. This is neither just nor in line with the fundamental ideals of reservation. J&K has now just 30 percent reservation quota for the open merit category. The reduction followed the LG administration's decision early last year to raise reservation for Paharis by 10 percent and that of the other tribes and the Other Backward Classes by 8 percent. According to the 2011 census, 69 percent of the J&K's population falls under the general category, which includes those not classified under Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes. But while reservations in the rest of the country have been capped at 50 percent, in J&K they have been fixed at 70 percent. This is a gross injustice. There's hope that the J&K Cabinet Sub-Committee examining reservations in recruitment will set things right. The subcommittee will present the report in six months and has promised rationalization of the job quotas.

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