Editor,
If fairness is the goal, equality and equity are two processes through which we can achieve it. Equality simply means everyone is treated the same way, regardless of need or any other individual difference. Equity, on the other hand, means that everyone is provided with what they need to succeed.
In our state, we do not have a caste division, but there is a huge class division within families, clans, and communities. For instance, in the same family, there is an officer and a manual labourer, which shows disparities in their living style, health status, and education. But whether one is earning lakhs or hundreds in a month due to the schedule tribe (ST) caste certificate, every tribal in our state is enjoying the same facilities from the government in the area of job opportunities and other social welfare schemes, which need modification with the changing times to bring equity and real development in the state.
The limited resources and job opportunities for the APSTs within the state could first be provided to the hapless section of the society in order to mitigate the disparities between the haves and the have nots. In this quest, the first step would be the identification of affluent people, such as A and B grade officers and millionaire businessmen and entrepreneurs of the state, and segregating them from the destitute people to pave the way for the upliftment of the true marginalised groups.
In a time when we are moving towards ‘amrit kaal’ and lauding ‘sabka saath, sabka vikash’, measures of equity are the only way to uplift the ‘particularly underprivileged’ section of society. And as per some judgment of the Supreme Court, it is within the prerogative of a state government to identify and sub-classify groups within the reserved category in order to aid the “weakest of the weak.”
Measures such as classification of the Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (APST) on the basis of family income and other indicators of economic disadvantage can be implemented by the authorities. We can segregate the affluent group of society from the underprivileged by bringing tools such as (1) calculating family income above Rs 7 lakhs per annum, or (2) person whose monthly salary is Rs 70,000 and above (approximately).
In the absence of data due to the non-application of the direct tax regime on our tribal government employees and businessmen, it would be an arduous task to calculate the actual income of the citizens. But in the present prevailing system, the gap between the rich and the poor is further widening rapidly.
The offspring of the officers and bigwigs of the state who are studying and living highly sophisticated lives in the metro cities and abroad are enjoying the same privileges provided by the state government, and later, with better and more advanced knowledge gained through advanced educational institutes, they (offspring of affluent people) make it hard for underprivileged candidates to avail of job opportunities in the state competitive examinations.
In the same manner, in most parts of the state, the affluent people collect free rations and subsidised items in their SUVs and luxurious cars, which is a mockery of the intrinsic idea behind the public distribution service (PDS). The list can go on to show how the schemes meant for the poor are actually benefiting only the rich, like the agro-based schemes in the state, which are solely availed of by the people who have political leverage and have monetary power.
The weapon of reservation is a very helpful one. It should be used in the best possible way and should be used carefully. Changes are a necessity of life, and hence, laws and provisions should also be changed with the changing times. The laws and provisions should be made according to the current conditions of society. And the method of segregation according to economic status would not only provide extra wings to the marginalised, but it would also definitely lay off some extra burden from the state government. In the same quest, our CBOs, NGOs, and pressure groups need to join hands with the government if we want to achieve the goal of a developed state in the coming decades.
Yiri Kamcham,
Kamcham,
Lower Siang