Politics of Social Justice

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The new government’s war cry on reservations in the private sector for the weaker sections has become yet another scheme to fragment the social order. While decrying the policies of the outgoing regime on issues like communalism and its policies on education, this proposal to have reservations in the private sector negates the very ethos on which reformists like Ambedkar had sought reservations for a particular time frame.
The President A P J Abdul Kalam in his address to the first session of both houses of Parliament after the United Progressive Alliance assumed office stated that, “The government is sensitive to the issue of affirmative action including reservations in the private sector... My government will initiate a dialogue with political parties, industry and other bodies on how best the private sector can fulfill the aspirations of SCs and STs.” While the state is empowered to make provisions for reservation, the question would arise whether any act backed by the Parliament would be tantamount to interference in the internal management of companies in the private sector. Moreover, one could argue that while public sector concerns are instruments of the state, reservations in jobs in the private sector would be violative of Articles 19 and Article 14. A Constitutional amendment in this regard would have to be ratified by half the states of the Union. The other route is to call for a tripartite meeting of representatives from industry, trade unions and the government to seek a consensus for ensuring job reservations, and the government could issue a directive for its implementation.
The champions of social justice argue that inequality cannot be allowed to persist in democracies like India and question the stress on ‘efficiency’ as a virtue. First, they hold that since India has a social order marked by inequality at its very core, it would be unjust to lay undue emphasis on merit when certain sections of society suffer from perennial disadvantages due to age-old practices of the caste system. Second, in states like Maharashtra, some private companies face the prospect of being directed by the state government to reserve fifty two percent of their posts for members of backward classes in recruitments every year. The justification provided is that since companies like Videocon, LG Electronics and Indian Hotels are housed on land leased by the state government, it is imperative that they give something back to society by furthering the cause of social justice. Third, not to be outmaneuvered in their own game, the Lok Janshakti Party has also sought the establishment of a Dalit Regiment in the Indian army which was later toned down due to the presence of the Mahar regiment.
The emergence of political parties based on caste and sectarian lines highlights the inability of the system to broaden their social base and their ambivalence towards the acrimony prevailing between various caste groups. Their predilection to remain in power is marked by raking up caste paranoia and taking potshots at their political rivals, notwithstanding their own track record of misgovernance and abuse of power.
Politics in India is marked by acts of symbolism purporting to strengthen the constituency of the weaker sections. The most notable actions were the installation of Ambedkar statues in prominent places, organising Ambedkar Melas and naming new districts after Dalit leaders. This certainly had a positive but a short-lived effect of the weaker sections feeling empowered and gaining dignity; at the same time what is baffling is that the Indian state has confined itself only to symbolism. So far there have not been any significant changes in land holdings and ownership, health care, employment or in promoting education among the weaker sections.
The present situation displays a divisive agenda to institutionalise the prevailing social order, and instill a psychological apartheid in the minds of the populace, which makes people conscious of their origin and identity in the work place. This is vindicated by the prevalence of caste-based associations in the bureaucracy, secretariats, municipal corporations and so on. So it is prudent that the new regime addresses the fear in the minds of individuals and communities based on their identity in society. The debate on merit and its repercussions on India’s place in the world market is a vital aspect to be noted, given the limits of pursuing a social agenda in wake of globalization. What is required is to provide a human face to the reforms and provide enough opportunities to all sections of society to gain entry into knowledge-based industries.

Published on 20 June 2004, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies.
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http://www.ipcs.org/comm_select.php?articleNo=1414