Telangana Bill 2017: The Mathematics of Ashrāf Appeasement
KHALID ANIS ANSARI.
[a few preliminary points based on reports from the newspapers and other online resources]
The Telangana Reservation Structure before the passing of the recent Bill:
OBC [Group A: 7%+Group B: 10%+Group C: 1%+Group D: 7%+Group E: 4%]: 29%+ SC: 15% + ST: 6% = 50%
The population of Muslims is 12.68% (44.64 lakh) in Telangana. As far as Muslims are concerned OBC-A included Muslim Mehtars, OBC-B included Dudekula, Laddaf, Pinjari, Noorbash and OBC-E included 14 caste groups [Attar Saibulu, Dhobi Muslim, Singali, Faqir, Garadi Muslim, Gosangi Muslim, Hajam, Labbai, Borewale, Qureshi, Shaik, Siddi, Saibulu).
81% MUSLIMS WERE ALREADY COVERED IN THE EXISTING OBC LISTS (GROUP A, B and E). BUT NONE OF THE ASHRĀF CASTES WERE INCLUDED.
Now what does ‘The Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or posts in the services under the State) Bill, 2017’ passed yesterday propose to do?
Increase the quantum of OBC-E from 4% to 12% and bring the other remaining castes (ashrāfs to be more precise) in its ambit. While even the OBC-E (4%) is being scrutinized by the Supreme Court for being a ‘communal’ quota, TRS adds 8% more to cross the putative 50% Supreme Court Ceiling and complicate the situation further. Most probably it will be rejected by the Centre and Supreme Court and will turn out to be just one more symbolic move at ashrāf appeasement. But hypothetically speaking say if the 12% quota is approved will it not allow the dominant ashrāfs to corner all the benefits at the expense of pasmanda sections?
WE MUST BE CLEAR THAT RESERVATION IS NOT A POVERTY ALLEVIATION EXERCISE. ONLY SOCIALLY BACKWARD AND UNDERREPRESENTED SECTIONS CAN BE INCLUDED IN THE OBC LISTS. ASHRĀFS ARE NOT SOCIALLY BACKWARD AND ARE OVERREPRESENTED IN TELANGANA GOVERNMENT SERVICES. THEY HAVE NO CASE AT ALL. THE POOR SECTIONS AMONG ASHRAFS, OR ANY OTHER GROUP FOR THAT MATTER, HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED BY OTHER AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMS NOT RESERVATIONS.
Another interesting suggestion: ‘Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri (Majlis) supported the Bill and suggested an official amendment to create BC-F category to cover leftover groups of Muslims. He wanted the existing 4 percent reservation for BC-E group containing 14 groups should be retained as it is and the additional 8 per cent hike proposed to cover Syed, Moghal, Pathan and local Arab groups.’
So, as per Pasha’s suggestion, 10.27% Pasmanda Muslims (81% of 12.68% Telengana Muslims) continue with 4% OBC-E and the remaining 2.41% Ashrāf Muslims (19% of 12.68% Telangana Muslims) should get 8% reservations as OBC-F. That is what Syedwaad is: incorrigible, greedy and thoroughly medieval!
NOTES:
1. The 81% figure has been suggested by The Sudheer Commission on `Socio-economic and educational conditions of Muslims in Telangana’ Report. It recommends that: ‘Given that more than 81 per cent of the Muslim population is already categorized as backward, there may be an increase in the reservation percentage to 12 percent or a minimum of 9 per cent based on their social and educational backwardness and deprivation. The Government can do this quickly as about four fifths of the Muslim populations already have been placed in the BC-A, BC-B and BC-E categories.’]
2. The representation of Muslims in Telangana government services is 7.36% which would be mostly cornered by ashrāfs (2.41% population).
3. Sheik should not be confused with its North Indian counterpart which is high caste.
KHALID ANIS ANSARI.
[a few preliminary points based on reports from the newspapers and other online resources]
The Telangana Reservation Structure before the passing of the recent Bill:
OBC [Group A: 7%+Group B: 10%+Group C: 1%+Group D: 7%+Group E: 4%]: 29%+ SC: 15% + ST: 6% = 50%
The population of Muslims is 12.68% (44.64 lakh) in Telangana. As far as Muslims are concerned OBC-A included Muslim Mehtars, OBC-B included Dudekula, Laddaf, Pinjari, Noorbash and OBC-E included 14 caste groups [Attar Saibulu, Dhobi Muslim, Singali, Faqir, Garadi Muslim, Gosangi Muslim, Hajam, Labbai, Borewale, Qureshi, Shaik, Siddi, Saibulu).
81% MUSLIMS WERE ALREADY COVERED IN THE EXISTING OBC LISTS (GROUP A, B and E). BUT NONE OF THE ASHRĀF CASTES WERE INCLUDED.
Now what does ‘The Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or posts in the services under the State) Bill, 2017’ passed yesterday propose to do?
Increase the quantum of OBC-E from 4% to 12% and bring the other remaining castes (ashrāfs to be more precise) in its ambit. While even the OBC-E (4%) is being scrutinized by the Supreme Court for being a ‘communal’ quota, TRS adds 8% more to cross the putative 50% Supreme Court Ceiling and complicate the situation further. Most probably it will be rejected by the Centre and Supreme Court and will turn out to be just one more symbolic move at ashrāf appeasement. But hypothetically speaking say if the 12% quota is approved will it not allow the dominant ashrāfs to corner all the benefits at the expense of pasmanda sections?
WE MUST BE CLEAR THAT RESERVATION IS NOT A POVERTY ALLEVIATION EXERCISE. ONLY SOCIALLY BACKWARD AND UNDERREPRESENTED SECTIONS CAN BE INCLUDED IN THE OBC LISTS. ASHRĀFS ARE NOT SOCIALLY BACKWARD AND ARE OVERREPRESENTED IN TELANGANA GOVERNMENT SERVICES. THEY HAVE NO CASE AT ALL. THE POOR SECTIONS AMONG ASHRAFS, OR ANY OTHER GROUP FOR THAT MATTER, HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED BY OTHER AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMS NOT RESERVATIONS.
Another interesting suggestion: ‘Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri (Majlis) supported the Bill and suggested an official amendment to create BC-F category to cover leftover groups of Muslims. He wanted the existing 4 percent reservation for BC-E group containing 14 groups should be retained as it is and the additional 8 per cent hike proposed to cover Syed, Moghal, Pathan and local Arab groups.’
So, as per Pasha’s suggestion, 10.27% Pasmanda Muslims (81% of 12.68% Telengana Muslims) continue with 4% OBC-E and the remaining 2.41% Ashrāf Muslims (19% of 12.68% Telangana Muslims) should get 8% reservations as OBC-F. That is what Syedwaad is: incorrigible, greedy and thoroughly medieval!
NOTES:
1. The 81% figure has been suggested by The Sudheer Commission on `Socio-economic and educational conditions of Muslims in Telangana’ Report. It recommends that: ‘Given that more than 81 per cent of the Muslim population is already categorized as backward, there may be an increase in the reservation percentage to 12 percent or a minimum of 9 per cent based on their social and educational backwardness and deprivation. The Government can do this quickly as about four fifths of the Muslim populations already have been placed in the BC-A, BC-B and BC-E categories.’]
2. The representation of Muslims in Telangana government services is 7.36% which would be mostly cornered by ashrāfs (2.41% population).
3. Sheik should not be confused with its North Indian counterpart which is high caste.