Q.18. Despite comprehensive policies for equity and social justice, underprivileged sections are not yet getting the full benefits of affirmative action envisaged by the Constitution. Comment. [UPSC 2024 GS P-1]

India’s Constitution enshrines provisions aimed at ensuring equity and social justice for historically disadvantaged and underprivileged sections of society, particularly through affirmative action. These measures include reservations in education, employment, and political representation for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), among other initiatives. Despite these comprehensive policies, many underprivileged groups are not fully benefiting from these measures as intended. Several factors contribute to this persistent issue:

1. Inefficient Implementation of Policies:

While India has a robust framework of affirmative action, the implementation of policies at both the national and state levels often falls short. Bureaucratic inefficiencies, corruption, and delays in executing schemes and programs hinder the intended benefits from reaching the target groups. For example, delayed scholarship payments or inadequate infrastructure in schools reserved for SC/ST students often prevent effective utilization of educational quotas.

2. Lack of Awareness:

A significant portion of the underprivileged population, especially in remote rural areas, is not fully aware of their rights or the affirmative action programs available to them. Illiteracy and lack of access to information contribute to this gap, preventing individuals from seeking and availing opportunities in education, employment, and welfare schemes.

3. Unequal Access to Quality Education:

Although reservations exist for SCs, STs, and OBCs in educational institutions, access to quality primary and secondary education remains a major barrier. Many underprivileged children attend poorly funded schools with inadequate teachers and infrastructure, limiting their ability to compete in higher education. As a result, the dropout rate among these sections is high, and they often struggle to benefit from reservations in universities and colleges.

4. Economic Disparities within Marginalized Communities:

While affirmative action policies are designed to uplift entire communities, the benefits often accrue to those who are already better off within these communities. This phenomenon, sometimes referred to as the “creamy layer” issue among OBCs, implies that economically better-off individuals within these groups capture most of the opportunities, leaving the most disadvantaged segments behind. The poorest members of SC, ST, and OBC communities often continue to struggle with poverty, social exclusion, and lack of access to basic services.

5. Discrimination and Social Stigma:

Despite constitutional guarantees, caste-based discrimination continues to persist in many parts of India, particularly in rural areas. This discrimination often undermines the effectiveness of affirmative action programs. For example, SCs and STs may face exclusion in workplaces, social alienation in schools, or lack of opportunities for upward mobility due to deeply entrenched social hierarchies. This limits their ability to fully benefit from the opportunities that affirmative action is supposed to provide.

6. Underrepresentation in Higher Positions:

While affirmative action has increased representation of underprivileged groups in entry-level jobs and educational institutions, their presence in higher positions of power and decision-making remains limited. There are fewer SCs, STs, and OBCs in senior roles in government services, academia, and the private sector, creating a glass ceiling that prevents their full participation in nation-building.

7. Inadequate Political Representation:

Though the Constitution provides for reservation of seats in Parliament and state legislatures for SCs and STs, their political representation does not always translate into effective policy advocacy or resource allocation for their communities. Many elected representatives from underprivileged groups may lack the necessary political clout, experience, or resources to advocate for comprehensive social justice policies.

8. Intersectionality of Marginalization:

The intersection of caste, gender, and geography exacerbates the challenges faced by certain sections. For example, Dalit women or tribal women face additional layers of discrimination compared to their male counterparts. Similarly, underprivileged groups in remote tribal areas face challenges distinct from those in urban centers, such as lack of access to healthcare, education, and basic infrastructure. Affirmative action policies do not always address these intersecting disadvantages.

9. Private Sector Exclusion:

Affirmative action policies largely apply to government jobs and public sector institutions, leaving the private sector largely outside the ambit of reservations. With the increasing privatization of the economy, this lack of representation in the private sector limits the overall impact of affirmative action policies on employment for marginalized groups.

Conclusion:

While affirmative action policies in India have been pivotal in addressing historical injustices and promoting equity and social justice, their full potential has not yet been realized. The gaps in policy implementation, unequal access to quality resources, persistent discrimination, and economic disparities within marginalized groups are significant challenges. To ensure that underprivileged sections truly benefit from these measures, there is a need for more targeted policy interventions, better implementation and monitoring, awareness campaigns, and a broader scope of affirmative action that includes the private sector and addresses intersecting forms of marginalization.