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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Govt drops move to divide dalits into sub-groups by Subodh Ghildiyal

Govt drops move to divide dalits into sub-groups by Subodh Ghildiyal

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published Published on May 26, 2011   modified Modified on May 26, 2011
The move to divide dalits into sub-groups seems headed for cold storage, amid indications that the Centre is apprehensive of the political consequences of the proposal which has polarized the volatile community along sub-castes.

The social justice ministry has recalled its earlier proposal to amend the Constitution to facilitate division of the SC list as per wishes of some states. It will now seek the views of states on the entire issue. This is set to put off the sensitive move by a few years.

The sub-categorisation of SCs was mooted as a solution to the grievance that powerful dalit communities had cornered reservation benefits disproportionately to their population. The division of SCs into sub-groups, with each bloc assigned a fraction of the 15% dalit quota, would ensure better distribution of benefits, it was argued.

Cabinet sources said the social justice ministry has proposed that the Centre consult the states on the sensitive issue and then hold discussions with political parties to hammer out the way forward.

This is an about-turn from the earlier proposal which said that Article 341 of the Constitution should be amended to enable states to seek division of the SC list in their territory. The proposal said a state assembly could pass a resolution seeking sub-categorisation and send it to the Centre for Parliament's assent.

A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court had in 2004 struck down sub-categorisation in Andhra Pradesh, forcing the state to ask the Centre for a constitutional amendment to overrule the apex court order.

For an issue which has polarized the supposedly homogenous SCs into stronger and weaker blocs across the country, the Centre now wants to tread carefully lest it be caught between the warring factions. Sub-categorisation is seen to harm stronger SCs like Chamars in the north and Malas in Andhra Pradesh because they enjoy claim over the entire 15% quota for dalits. The sub-categorisation would limit the bloc to a fraction of the 15% quota earmarked for them.

Dalit activists have dubbed it a ploy to pit SCs against each other and break their consolidation under identity-based political platforms like BSP.

The National Commission for SCs, chaired by PL Punia, has also been strongly opposed to the move to amend the Constitution. It said, "Instead of dividing SCs, the state government (AP) should devise proper mechanism to empower the poorest of the poor among SCs through special schemes aimed at their social, educational and economic empowerment," it said.

The Times of India, 26 May, 2011, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Govt-drops-move-to-divide-dalits-into-sub-groups/articleshow/8577554.cms


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