Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

On reservation

This refers to the suggestion by the National Commission for Minorities to extend reservation to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims. A good number of Dalits convert to Islam. But their socio-economic status remains the same. Most of them continue with their traditional professions as artisans, peasants and labourers. According to the Justice Rangnath Misra Commission “caste is in fact a social phenomenon shared by almost all Indian communities irrespective of their religious persuasions.” It recommends that the caste system be recognised as a general characteristic of Indian society. The Sachar Committee also says: “being at the bottom of the social hierarchy, the Muslim arzals [SCs] are the worst off and need to be handled separately. It would be most appropriate if they were absorbed in the SC list, or at least in a separate category ...”

In view of all these and the NCM’s suggestion, the “Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order” 1950 should be deleted by appropriate action to de-link the Scheduled Caste status from religion.

M. Naushad Ansari,

New Delhi

The case for extension of reservation to Dalit Christians and Muslims is valid. In fact, it is overdue if we take their economic plight, educational backwardness and social discrimination into account.

M. Govindaswamy,

Chennai

Reservation should be eliminated in a phased manner. It divides the electorate on the basis of caste. The focus should be on providing better infrastructure to all sections, not bringing more groups under reservation.

I dream of an India where education is purely merit-based and the right to control educational institutions lies with the state.

V.P. Sreenivasan,

Bangalore

Reservation for Dalit Christians and Muslims will only undermine the basic values of Christianity and Islam, and strengthen the barrier between Dalits and others within the religions. Even though the study claims that Dalit Muslims and Christians are socially known and treated as distinct groups within their religious communities, the suggestion to extend reservation to them in a generalised manner weakens the reasons for which Dalits decided to convert. In Islam, there is no discrimination.

Akifuddin,

Bangalore

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