Editorial of the Day (13th Aug): Socio-Economic differentials within SCs/STs

Context: Disparities among SC/ST sub-groups have led the Court to endorse sub-classification, aiming at ensuring a fairer distribution of reservation benefits.

The Critique of Group-Based Affirmative Action

• Homogeneity Assumption: The primary criticism is that affirmative action policies assume all members of a designated group are equally disadvantaged, ignoring intra-group socioeconomic variations.
• Benefits for the Advantaged: This homogeneity assumption leads to benefits accruing disproportionately to relatively privileged sections within the target group, exacerbating inequality.
• Contradiction of Purpose: This outcome undermines the core purpose of affirmative action, which is to reduce overall inequality.

Constitutional Mandates and Judicial Decisions

• Reservation Policy: Seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in various sectors by constitutional mandate due to historical disadvantages.
• Supreme Court Rulings:
  • 2004 E.V Chinnaih vs State of Andhra Pradesh: The Supreme Court maintained that SCs/STs are a homogenous group, rejecting sub-classifications.
  • 2024 Landmark Judgment: The Court reversed its earlier stance, allowing for sub-classifications and sub-quotas within the SC/ST quota to address internal disparities.

Socio-Economic Disparities within SCs/STs

Data from the 2011 census demonstrates the stark differences between sub-groups within SCs and STs in terms of:

• Urbanisation: Some sub-groups have higher levels of urbanisation, which correlates with better access to education and employment opportunities.
• Education: There are significant disparities in educational attainment, with some sub-groups having higher proportions of graduates and postgraduates compared to others.
• Occupation: Sub-groups with higher levels of education are less likely to be engaged in precarious forms of employment like agricultural labour.

Examples of Intra-group Socio-economic Disparities

• Bihar: Musahars are significantly disadvantaged compared to Pasis and Chamars in terms of education and urbanization.
• Maharashtra: Bhambis enjoy better socioeconomic conditions than Mangs.
• Punjab: Chamars are more advantaged than Mazhabis.
• West Bengal: Namsudras have better access to opportunities than Bagdis.
• Chhattisgarh: Halba tribes are more developed than Baiga tribes.
• Jharkhand: Oraons are more advantaged than Mal Paharias.
• Odisha: Oraons are significantly ahead of Bhumia in education.
• Rajasthan: Meenas are the most educated and economically advanced tribal group, while Garasias are relatively deprived.

Implications and Future Directions

• Persistence of Disparities: The analysis confirms ongoing socio-economic disparities within SCs and STs, which suggest that benefits of a uniform reservation system are unevenly distributed.
• Political and Legal Course: While the future actions of the political class remain uncertain, the judicial endorsement of sub-classifications is likely to lead towards a more equitable distribution of reservation benefits.

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