President of the National Backward Classes Welfare Association R. Krishnaiah has opposed the Centre's move to provide 10% reservation to the poor among upper castes or economically backward classes (EBCs) in education and employment stating that it is against the spirit of reservation system.
Provision of 10% quota would make the whole system of reservations meaningless, he said in a statement issued here on Tuesday.
The 20% upper castes in the society had been enjoying 80% posts and wealth for the last 71 years and giving reservation to them would be a step of retrograde. He contended that the basis principle behind reservation system was social backwardness and not economical backwardness.
Stating that reservation system was not a poverty alleviation scheme, Mr. Krishnaiah said quota for poor among the upper castes would be against the basic principles of the Constitution.
The existing reservation system itself had become directionless after it had become a tool in the hands of politicians as instead of empowering BCs with the quota it was helping the politicians to exploit BCs, Mr. Krishnaiah observed.
He suggested the Centre to offer special economic packages, subsidised loans, self employment schemes, scholarships and fee reimbursement to alleviate poverty among the upper castes and not with the help of reservation.
Move welcomed
Meanwhile, former member of the National Backward Classes Commission B. Babu Rao Varma, however, welcomed the step and appreciated the Centre for considering the long-pending demand and desire of economically poor sections of the upper castes.
“This facility can be reviewed critically and constantly for 10 years to solve implementation problems arising out of it and fine tune it reflecting people's aspirations,” he said in a statement.