Open Merit, Closed Chances

The anxiety in the students and the job seekers that apply in the open merit slot in J&K is  deepening. The reasons are obvious. As the balance is mathematically tilting towards reserved categories, those in the Open Merit feel that they are getting marginalised. This could never have been the purpose of the affirmative action that was intended to bring the marginalised sections of the society at par with others in terms of opportunities.

Since any reservation policy is actually a political decision and not an administrative one, it is for the political leadership to relook into it, and  ensure that the concern for one section of the society doesn't put the other at a disadvantage. The decision of the NC government to constitute a cabinet sub-committee to re-look into the reservation policy is welcome. In fact it was one of the poll promises of the NC leadership.

Now that the committee is in place, it has to accomplish a task that is very crucial and it will have to navigate many complexities. The quota under different reserved categories that has been assigned has definitely created an imbalance and it needs to be corrected.  J&K Public Service Commission recently advertised 575 posts of lecturers, with only 238 in the open category and 337 in the reserved categories. This is a glaring case of squeezing the space for Open Merit. In fact the figures are misleading.

Ultimately the  numbers for the Open Merit category are less than what is reflected in the notification. The reason is that all those candidates from the reserved categories who secure high marks finally figure in the  Open Merit nibbling at the already shrunken piece for the entire Open Merit category. The cabinet sub-committee must take this into account and at least save the Open Merit from this onslaught. If the purpose is to ensure that aspirants form all sections of the society get an opportunity to compete, why there is a need to go beyond the stipulated number of seats designated under the reserved quota.

It does damage at two levels. One,  the Open Merit takes a hit. Two, those at the bottom of the performance level sneak into positions that they hardly deserve. It then has a telling impact on all those services these people have to render in various professional spaces. The second area that needs a thorough probe, and consequent correction, is the undue advantage people take under this reserved category slot.

There is a considerable population belonging to various reserved categories that has long shifted to urban spaces and avail best of the opportunities, from education to economy to exposure. But they still benefit from the reserved quota. This must stop. It is total injustice. It hits both, the candidates in the Open Merit as well as the candidates who really deserve a preferential treatment under a reserved category. So the cabinet sub-committee has a grave task at hand and they must do it diligently and effectively.