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Xaxa ProtectiveDiscriminationScheduled 2001
Xaxa ProtectiveDiscriminationScheduled 2001
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VIRGINIUS XAXA
he groups identified as scheduled for members of the scheduled caste and better than the other, or alternatively, as
castes and scheduled tribes sufferedscheduled tribe category. The quota was to why one has not fared as well as the
from certain disabilities. The Con- fixed keeping in mind the populationother. It is interesting to note that though
the filling up of the quota falls short of
stitution of India hence made certain pro- size of the two groups then. It was 15 per
visions for their welfare and upliftment. cent for the scheduled castes and 7.5 the government stipulation both with re-
All the same, the provisions are far from per cent for the scheduled tribes. The spect
size to scheduled castes and scheduled
uniform for the two groups. Indeed, there so fixed has remained the same till today
tribes particularly with respect to the higher-
are more provisions for the scheduled tribes though the population size of the two
grade services, the distribution of the two
than for the scheduled castes. The Articles communities has undergone changes. categories has been disproportionate.
15(4), 16(4), 19(5), 23, 46, 330, 332, 334, As per 1991 Census, the scheduled castes
constitute 16.5 per cent of the total
335 and 338 are common to the two I
categories and Articles 29, 164,population
244, and the scheduled tribes Relative Positions of
244(A), 275(1), 339(1), 339(2) pertain 8.01 per cent.
only the SCs and STs
to the scheduled tribe category. Besides, Though the reservation policy has been
there are Articles 371(A), 371(B) and in force for five decades and the popula- As pointed out earlier, the provision of
371(C), which are in force only in certain tion size of the two communities has grown reservations for the scheduled castes and
states of the north-eastern region either in over the years, the filling up of the quota scheduled tribes have been made in three
the whole state or part of it [Verma 1990]. as fixed by the government is a problem areas-parliament/legislatures (politics),
Of the provisions ensured for the sched- even today. This is far more the case at government services and educational in-
uled castes and scheduled tribes, the policy the upper levels of the government and stitutions. In politics, the provision of
of protective discrimination has been one semi government services. There are many reservation was initially meant for the
of the most debated and discussed. Based reasons as to why the quota reserved for period of 10 years, but, ever since-then,
on the policy, the government has laid the two communities could not be filled it has been renewed on a regular basis. It
down three kinds of arrangementfor people up. Much has already been written on the is worth noting here that such time limits
belonging to the category of the scheduledissue. And the reasons put forward range contrary to general beliefs was not fixed
castes and scheduled tribes. First, there hasfrom apathy and indifference of the govern- in the areas of government services and
been reservation of seats for these groups ment to the unavailability of suitableeducational institutions [Galanter 1984:
in the parliament/state legislatures. Sec-candidates from the scheduled caste and 46]. Unlike the scheduled tribes, who have
ond, there has been reservation of jobs forthe scheduled tribe category, on account been unable to create a space for them-
them in government and semi-government of their social, economic and educational selves in the national or regional scene, the
services. Third, seats have been reservedbackgrounds [Ram 1981]. Therefore the scheduled castes have been able to do so,
for them in the educational institutions focus in the paper is not on this aspect especially
of in cases where the two have
especially in institutions of the higher reservations. Instead, the paper will con- been sharing these facilities.
learning such as colleges and universities sider the following issues: (1) a compari-
son between the scheduled tribes and
Politics
for their social and educational advance-
scheduled castes in relation to the benefits
ment. To this end, a certain percentage of Let us start with.the sphere of politics.
derived by them of the facilities extended
seats or quota was earmarked in the As noted earlier 15 per cent and 7.5 per
parliament/state legislatures, government
to them so far; (2) an analysis, even though cent of seats in parliament are reserved for
services and the educational institutions
tentative, as to why one category has fared the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes
y(Wnhn )suh~L
20^ ^^^^e A
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larger society. The contact of the tribespopulation of the different tribal groupsMaharashtra 11.4 3.0 12.1 2.0
Orissa 14.1 4.8 13.1 5.2
with the larger society though not alto-and their performances. Rather, the pattern
W Bengal 11.2 0.5 7.3 0.4
gether absent was tenuous and limited prior seems to be one of larger the size, lower
Source: UGC, 'Representation of Scheduled
to the arrival of the British. With the onset is the rate of literacy, educational attain-
Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Enrolment,
of the colonial rule, the scenario has ment and share in the facilities extended
Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff in
however undergone change. Tribes have by the governments. The case of the gonds, University Teaching Departments/
bhils, santhals, the three major tribal
been increasingly brought in contact with University Colleges', pp 12-18.
the larger society and exposed to the wider
world through means of transport like roads Table 4: Admission of Scheduled Caste/Tribe Students In IIT-Kanpur (1967-78)
and railways on the one hand and growth of
Year No of Candidates No of Candidates No of Candidates ' No of Candidates
trade, commerce and market on the other. Applied for JEE in Merit and Called Offered Actually Admitted
Such a process has been followed more for Interview Admissions
Total SC ST SC ST SC ST SC ST Total
vigorously in the post-independent India
through various ways of integration of 1967-68 62 47 15 - - - - -
have not necessarily fared better than thoseSource. K N Sharma et al (1974): 'E
who have been minimally exposed. Adjustment of IIT, Kanpur Stud
eastern and central India. The mizos and tian, educated, and non-educated and also Planning Commission (2000): 'Tribes in India'
(A Data Sheet).
the khasis with a population of less than
certain level of occupational differentia- - (2000): 'Scheduled Castes in India' (A Data
one million each had a form of chieftain- tion within the community. It gave rise to Sheet)
ship among them. There were also someemergence of a priestly class, teachers, and Ram, Nandu (1981): 'The Limited Education,'
social differentiation based on rank and Seminar, December.
others from within who were also being
Report of the Commissioner for Scheduled Castes
accorded high status within the commu-
some rudimentary form of status. The ranks and Scheduled Tribes, part II, 1975-76 and
and status based on lineage were not opennity. The emergence of such groups fairly 1976-77 (Appendices).
to all. It is with Christianity and modemearly within the community helped such Sharma, K N et al (1974): 'Educational Arithmetic
of Social Inequality' (A Study of Admission
education that opened up new opportuni- community to take advantage of the ser- and Adjustment of IIT Kanpur students), Dept
ties of rank and status among them. The vices provided by the modernising pro- of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian
cess. This explains, even though partially,
growth of township within the tribal heart- Institute of Technology Kanpur
land resulting from opening up of new as to why the oraons have done better than (Mimeographed).
University Grants Commission (1992-93):
administration and the rise of trade and the other in availing the facilities provided 'Representation of Scheduled Castes and
commerce gave not only a major boost toby the government under the constitutional Scheduled Tribes in Enrolment, Teaching and
the process of social differentiation in thoseprovision. These then were some of the Non-Teaching Staff in University Departments/
societies but also led to intense interaction structural features within which better University Colleges' (Mimeographed).
Verma, R C (1990): Indian Tribes through the
between groups living there including the performance of the scheduled tribes and Ages, Ministry of Information and
tribes. It may not be out of place to point castes has to be understood. If1 Broadcasting, GoI, New Delhi.
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