If promotions are based on objective evaluation of performance during service rather than ‘seniority lists’, there would be no case for quotas.
Affirmative action is not anathema to liberal democracies. At a basic level, it seeks to link merit to equality of opportunity. A person may be intrinsically meritorious, but unfavourable economic circumstances and social background put him or her on an unequal playing field vis-à-vis those suffering no such handicaps. As a result, the individual’s true merit does not get revealed, which is what ‘affirmative action’ targeting underprivileged sections of society seeks to address. In India, this has taken the form of caste-based reservations in government jobs. For all their shortcomings – including denial of equality of opportunity to the poor among the so-called Upper Castes – these quotas have imparted a certain representative character to the country’s administration, hitherto dominated by communities that had a headstart in education. They have also facilitated upward mobility and creation of a middle class elite within historically discriminated communities, which again may not be a bad thing.
While there is justifiable logic for reservations at the entry level, extending these to promotions – as the Government has proposed through a Bill introduced in Parliament – is, however, problematic. A candidate from an underprivileged background taking the civil services entrance examination may find it difficult to compete in the normal course, for reasons other than merit. A strong case, then, exists for allowing him a lower cut-off to qualify for the job or creating a special quota for those with similar community backgrounds. But once the person has got the job, he should be able to overcome these initial disabilities. The exposure and confidence gained during the service period should be enough for his true worth to get reflected in performance. That being so, there can be no real arguments favouring community job quotas in promotion – especially for the higher posts, where the playing field would presumably be more equal than before the entry into service.
But then, it is also true that the representation of Scheduled Castes/Tribes in the upper echelons of the bureaucracy is abysmally low, in marked contrast to their increased proportions down the ladder from Group ‘A’ to ‘D’ and beyond. But that has more to do with the manner in which the ‘seniority list’ is prepared for the purpose of inter se ranking of all employees joining the civil service at any given time. Right now, it is this list that largely matters in empanelment for higher grades. Those in the ‘reserved’ category lose out here, as the seniority list is based on a candidate’s performance in the entrance exam and/or record during the probation period. It stands to reason that those recruited under a scheme of reservation would necessarily rank lower than those coming in through the general category, as they would not have entered the service but for a special dispensation in selection. There is no evidence of discrimination operating through informal networks, as proponents of quota in promotion allege. The answer, therefore, lies in giving ‘merit’, measured through ‘on-job’ performance, a fair chance before any tinkering is attempted. If performance during service is made the sole criteria, there would be no case for reservation in promotions at all.
Keywords: promotions, objective evaluation of performance, seniority lists, no case for quotas, reservation in promotions
Comments:
Your editorial reflects the right perception. While government
employees who are not Scs or Sts understand and accept that
reservation in job and education is necessary, we also acknowledge
that once job is given it is for the employee to motivate and perform.
Further promotions shall be based on written exam and work related
performance/CR. In fact the weightage for performance may be suitably
enhanced. The written test shall be based more on objective test and
lesser on detailed questions. This would avoid resentment among
employees of other categories. Govt. need to be sensitive to this
issue. Real and sustained development of dalits can happen if
corruption is rid off from top to panchayat level.
(1)Who are the beneficiaries of reservations? The answer is that only an influential section of Dalits have cornered most of jobs and only the upper layers in SC communities have been benefited. Beneficiaries of promotional posts’ quotas will benefit those who are already well settled in life. It is these very sections among Dalits who are demanding reservations in promotions. (2)It is clear that reservations have become a tool of political largesse and will continue in the name of social justice. (3) Reservation of jobs in lower cadres is justifiable as you have rightly pointed out in edit. (4) Merit based promotions are desirable despite the danger that there may be cases of wrong assessment of an employee’s performance.
Perhaps Mr Apte and Mr Hariharan should be reborne as SC to understand the concept of "MERIT". Let me talk about the premise No.1 ""SCs/STs not having merit"Premise No.2:Only SCs from creamy layers corner reservations" I will go in the reverse order Premise #! regarding "cornering" My father suffered discrimination, abject poverty and studied despite losing a father at young age and supporting 10 family members In 1955, he wanted to go to Mumbai to write IAS but where to live ? Also there was no library in the village and nearest town he or relatives did not have a house So he wrote regional civil services and through quota entered state civil services and became a "promotee" (that denigrating term used by the direct IAS recuits) retiring as a Addl Chief Secretary So there goes yr premise of "creamy "layer He used to get poor reports from all his bosses due to caste Most of his colleagues used to consult him on complicated matters as his genius was known to all ...(continued)
(1)There is enough empirical evidence that quota has uplifted many to rise from the quag-mire of caste system especially in rural areas where oppression of dalits is pervasive this is not space to cite many studies and also give personal narratives of many such persons (2)Initially set up as a tool of raising depressed from social oppression, one does agree that reservations have become a tool of political largesse (3) Reservation of jobs in lower cadres is justifiable as you have rightly pointed out in edit. (4) Merit is a very dubious word Those who have been pragmatic have seen that it is the entry which requires so called "merit" Most promotions in private sector (which goes by efficiency/merit) are based on personal equations, chemistry, loyalty than "pure merit" , ""pure performance" "pure efficiency" Those who rise at the top as MDs and CEOs So can one imagine the biases one can have for the depressed classes in govt services where a SC cannot hide his "caste" unlike in prvt s
Please Email the Editor