Opinion
Inclusive Growth Shouldn't Mean
Ignoring OBCs
by
Rajeev Ranjan Roy
The Indian
government's slogan of inclusive growth is in conflict with ground
realities. Other Backward Classes (OBCs) - a major chunk of the needy -
have been left out of efforts for multi-dimensional development of all
sections of society.
A cursory glance at the much-hyped "inclusive growth budget" of Finance
Minister P. Chidambaram is indicative of how the government ignored the
OBC segment while making allocations for education for the 2008-09
fiscal.
Poor Scheduled Castes (SC) and tribes (ST) and minorities have been
taken care of, but not those belonging to OBCs. They too need special
attention to shed the tag of backwardness.
Around 52 percent of India's billion plus people are OBCs, according to
the Mandal Commission. It is presumed that OBCs are educationally better
off than other marginalized sections of society and hence do not need
affirmative measures. But that is a myth, going by the government's own
data.
Only 30 percent OBC children aged 18-22 were found to be studying in a
survey by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) in 2004-05.
Though 27 percent posts have been reserved for them since 1993, their
representation in central government services is abysmally low at 4.53
percent as against 17.05 percent for SCs, and 6.54 percent of STs as of
Jan 1, 2004, say the latest figures available with the department of
personnel and training (DoPT).
Had the OBCs been educationally so advanced, their representation in
government jobs would certainly have shot up after quotas were created
for them. Since the government's own facts paint a grim picture,
Chidambaram should have allocated more funds to be disbursed as
scholarships among poor OBCs.
The budget allocates Rs.10 billion for minorities in the new fiscal. The
ministry for tribal affairs has got Rs.21.21 billion.
The ministry of social justice and empowerment has been given only
Rs.1.85 billion to be spent on educational enhancement and other welfare
schemes.
Chidambaram in his budget speech announced scholarships worth Rs.8.04
billion for SC students in pre- and post-matriculation classes and
Rs.1.95 billion for ST students. The government will disburse only
Rs.1.64 billion as scholarships to the OBC students in pre- and
post-matriculation classes.
The government has given Rs.1 billion to be disbursed as scholarships
among minority students in post-matriculation classes in 2008-09.
Chidambaram proposed to allocate a sum of Rs.750 million in 2008-09 to
the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship Programme.
Census 2001 says the literacy rate among SCs is 54.69 percent, 47
percent in STs, and 68 percent among OBCs, including Muslims. According
to the assessment of the Planning Commission, the gross enrolment ratio
among OBCs in higher education is seven percent compared to five percent
and 6.43 percent among SCs and STs respectively. Thus educationally,
there is not a vast difference among these sections.
Government statistics do not leave any scope to doubt that there is need
to make inclusive growth more accommodative, especially in the education
sector as it is the main driver of socio-political and economic
emancipation for any social group.
The centre has rightly taken note of widespread educational backwardness
among minorities in general and Muslims in particular. A similar attempt
has to be made in the case of OBCs, who are pathetically placed in terms
of access to quality facilities.
If this aspect is ignored then the gap between different social groups
will continue to widen.
(Rajeev Ranjan Roy is a senior journalist who writes on socio-political
issues. The views expressed here are personal. He can be contacted at
rajeev.r@ians.in)
Boloji.com is owned and managed by
Boloji Media Inc Privacy Policy |
Disclaimer No part of this Internet site may
be reproduced without prior written permission of the copyright holder.
