Haryana becomes first state to implement Dalit sub-quota

Haryana has taken a historic step by becoming the first state to implement a sub-quota for the Dalit community, sub-categorizing Scheduled Castes (SCs). The decision comes after the Supreme Court’s August 2023 verdict allowing states to provide reservation by dividing SCs and STs communities. Haryana’s decision aims to improve the under-representation in employment sectors of the “Deprived Scheduled Castes” (DSC), who are more marginalised than the “Other Scheduled Castes” (OSC). The state has divided the SC community into two groups: DSC, which includes 36 castes such as Balmiki and Dhanak, and OSC, which includes castes such as Chamar and Jatav.

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The initiative, which was put on hold during Haryana’s election time, has now been activated, ensuring that each sub-group will get 50% of the 20% SC quota set for government jobs. This is in line with the Supreme Court’s direction that reservations should be linked to caste-based underrepresentation and is an important step towards equitable distribution of benefits within the Dalit community.

Historical background

In 2020, Haryana enacted a law to reserve 50% of the SC quota for disadvantaged groups in higher education institutions. The state’s recent decision comes after the Supreme Court’s August 2023 verdict overturning the 2004 Chinnaiya case, which had previously prevented such sub-categorisations. The court’s majority decision recognised the socio-economic diversity within SC/ST communities, paving the way for targeted benefits to the most backward sub-groups.

Political and social impact

The move is part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) strategy to attract Dalit voters, which has contributed to its recent electoral successes. Critics like Congress MLA Geeta Bhukkal have accused the government of using the issue for political gain, calling the split divisive in the SC community. However, the BJP says its focus is on empowering the most backward sections within the SCs and ensuring they get their due representation in government jobs.

Implementation and future impact

The state will now issue a notification to split the SC quota, aimed at reducing the underrepresentation of disadvantaged SCs in government sectors. Considering the underrepresentation of disadvantaged SCs in higher positions, the move seeks to create a more balanced scenario in the employment sector, breaking the occupational bias based on birth. The decision also has political significance as states like Maharashtra are also considering similar reforms.

Courtesy : Hindi News