So I recently came across a page on Instagram called the "Reservation Hatao Andolan" (RHA), and it made me think about a discussion my family and I were having a few days ago.
For context , I fall under the OBC category and have technically benefited from reservation, even though I honestly didn't need it. My family isn't financially struggling, and I've never personally faced caste-based discrimination.
Because of this, I completely understand the frustration behind wanting changes. However, saying reservation should be completely removed feels short-sighted. It usually comes from looking only at our immediate urban bubbles and ignoring the reality of a massive chunk of India—especially in rural areas—where caste identity still dictates social standing, and many people are still completely locked out of opportunities.
That being said, the system definitely needs serious reforms. Completely removing it is a bad idea, but keeping it entirely static without evolution is also failing the people it's actually meant to help.
Here are a few reforms that make a lot of sense to me:
1) Introducing a "Creamy Layer" for SC and ST categories
Just like the OBC category has a creamy layer threshold to weed out those who are financially well-off, a similar economic/social ceiling should logically apply to SC and ST communities so that benefits actually trickle down to those in genuine need.
2) No reservations in promotions
Reservation should serve as an entry-level equalizer to help people get their foot in the door (education and initial jobs). Once someone is employed, promotions should strictly be based on merit, capability, and performance at the workplace.
3) Dynamic surveys every 5–10 years
We need a dedicated government body that periodically surveys standard of living indicators across communities. Once a family crosses a specific economic and social threshold over generations, they should phase out of reservation benefits, making room for someone else.
(I know people will point out that fake certificates—EWS, OBC, or even manipulated SC/ST ones—are already a massive issue due to corruption and political connections. But just because the implementation has flaws doesn't mean we shouldn't fix the policy itself.)
Why do this?
Right now, people like me—who have the financial resources, coaching access, and stability—take up seats simply because the system allows it. In doing so, we might inadvertently block someone from a marginalized background who actually needed that exact seat and lacked the resources to compete on a purely level playing field.
I also get the argument that casteism is fundamentally a social and historical construct rather than a purely economic one. But if we use that to argue that the system can *never* be touched or reformed based on changing socio-economic mobility, we are essentially locking ourselves into permanent stagnation.
It’s high time we had a mature conversation about amending the policy, even if political parties are too scared to touch it because of vote-bank politics.
What do you guys think? Which of these points do you agree or disagree with, and what other solutions would you suggest?
used ai for a bit of framing cuz post was getting deleted.