Is reservation the best way to ensure social justice?

Arun Shourie says quotas haven't helped

ashishs

Ashish Sharma | March 16, 2010



Arun Shourie has argued that the policy of reservation has failed in its objective. According to a report in The Indian Express, the journalist-politician has said that underprivileged and deserving people are yet to get the benefits of reservation. Shourie has suggested that the government should therefore provide better nutrition and education facilities to the underprivileged sections of the society instead. “We need to tackle such problems at the grassroots level,” the daily has quoted Shourie as having said at an international conference on health and technology at the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur.

“After SC/ST, OBCs and minorities were brought under the reservation system, and now it is the turn of the Women's Reservation Bill,” Shourie said, pointing out that reservation was a never-ending process.

Do you agree with Arun Shourie's contention? Do you agree that quotas are not the most efficient tool to ensure equity in society? Or, do you believe reservation is the best way to ensure social justice?



 

Comments

 

Other News

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.  

Cabinet approves viability gap funding to develop grid-scale energy storage systems

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Development of Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems, with a total financial support of Rs.14,500 crore for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The scheme aims to support the development o

Cabinet creates a pathway to absorb Agniveers in Defence Forces

An objective assessment in terms of organisational requirements and operational efficiency has brought out the outstanding performance of Agniveers in terms of skills, motivation levels, physical fitness and technological prowess. As envisaged earlier, based on merit, 25% of Agniveers will be offered reg

Modi inaugurates, lays foundation stone of Pune Metro projects

Prime minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for Pune Metro projects worth around ₹21,800 crore on Tuesday through video conferencing. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the PM extended warm Diwali greetings to the people of Pune and Maharashtra and remarked that f

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter