Forward caste

Forward caste (also known as Forward Class, Forward Community, and General Class) is a term used in India to denote groups of people who do not qualify for any of the affirmative action schemes operated by the government of India. These schemes are known as Reservation Benefits. Forward castes form about 20–30 percent of the population, the number varying by region.[1][2] Those groups who qualify are listed as Other Backward castes or Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, and they can take advantage of defined quotas amongst other benefits for education, tax benefits , special government schemes, government employment and political representation. The lists of Forward, Other Backward and Scheduled castes, and Scheduled tribes are compiled irrespective of religion.[3][4][5] The lists are subject to change from time to time, dependent upon social, educational and economic factors. However, although lists are produced for those groups entitled to take advantage of the quotas, there is no such list for the Forward caste group; if a person does not belong to any of the listed groups then that person is by default a member of a group classed as Forward caste.

Economic and educational status

As of 2007, forward castes had to compete only in the open category, as they are considered socially, educationally, and economically advanced. At that time the reservation proportion stood at 50% in central-government educational institutions and central-government jobs. However, in certain states, such as Tamil Nadu, the reservation percentage was around 69%.[6]

Reservation for economically backward among forward castes

Currently forward castes are only allowed to compete for seats in the unreserved category in educational institutions and central government jobs, regardless of their educational/economical status in the society. However, a significant percentage of the forward caste population lives below the poverty line and more than 30% of the members of this community are illiterate. To meet their aspirations, demands have been raised for providing separate reservations for the poor among forward caste populations. Many political parties like BJP, Samajwadi Party, LJP, Rastriya Janata Dal, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Bahujan Samaj Party[7][8][9][10] have supported proposals for providing a separate reservation for the poor among the forward castes. These parties account for over 400 of the 542 members in the current parliament, as well as holding power in most states in the union.

Timeline

Many backward caste leaders allege forward castes are overrepresented in many spheres of life. State and central governments have not released adequate data regarding representation of various communities in their services and admissions to educational institutions. Most of the private companies in India do not collect data regarding community of their employees. Very few reports are available regarding representation of various communities in public–private services and admissions in educational institutions.

Rural landholding pattern of various social groups calculated by National Sample Survey 99-00 indicate that OBC and forward castes are comparable in wealth

Shrinking educational opportunities

Certain Indian states have Forward caste populations of more than 50% or close to 50%. In some of these states, the percentage of Forward castes admitted in educational institutions will be much less than their population percentage even if they secure all the seats in open competition.)

During April 2006, India’s Human Resource Minister announced that 27% seats will be reserved exclusively for candidates from Other Backward castes in addition to existing 22.5% reservation for Scheduled castes and Scheduled Tribes.[21]

The implementation of OBC reservation meant that 50% of seats are available in open competition. All communities can compete in open competition which means forward castes must secure between 72% and 78% of the 'open competition' seats in order to maintain their representation in keeping with their estimated population of 36-39%, whereas other communities will get major chunk of seats through exclusive reservations. This has resulted in protests from Forward caste community members and supporters from other communities under the banner of Youth for Equality and by All India Anti Reservation Front. They have pointed out the following as reasons for their protests:

Many states do not have 27% of Other Backward caste population, as per national sample surveys. (This includes major Indian states like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Punjab, West Bengal). Some Indian states like Assam , Goa , Haryana , Himachal Pradesh , Uttarakhand , have more than 50% Forward castes population, which means the number of seats secured by Forward castes will not be equal to their population proportion even if they secure 100% seats in open competition in central government institutions of these states. Central government, however, excluded 27% reservations to Other Backward castes to the areas with high tribal populations.[22]

See also

References

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  2. "Socio-economic caste census: Numbers not being revealed to hide upper caste dominance in governance?". if we go by the generous Mandal Commission figures the upper caste numbers ought to be just 16-18 per cent and nothing more.
  3. Caste in Question. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  4. Rural Banking in India. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  5. Social Development and Demographic Changes in South India. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  6. Tamil Nadu's quota stir an assertion of its 69 percent? (NEWS ANALYSIS) - India
  7. ExspressIndia.com Link 01 Archived March 12, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ExpressIndia.com Link 02
  9. "Paswan for quota for economically backward". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  10. "The Hindu : Cong. for 'quota' for poor among forward castes". Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  11. "The Hindu : GoM to study quota for poor among forward castes". Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  12. "The Hindu Business Line: Jobs for economically backward classes: 4-member commission set up". Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  13. "Commission for economically backward classes constituted". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  14. "The Kerala Professional Colleges Bill And Social Justice". Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  15. "TN Act on reservation under 9th schedule illegal". The Hindu. 31 October 2006. Archived from the original on 2008-05-23.
  16. "League locks horns with upper castes, The Milli Gazette, Vol.5 No.15, MG109 (1-15 Aug 04)". Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  17. "Are Brahmins the Dalits of today?". Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  18. FINAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE -3.10.2006.doc
  19. https://web.archive.org/web/20070930032139/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1833012,0008.htm. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved November 13, 2006. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?autono=264481&leftnm=4&subLeft=0&chkFlg=
  21. "Quota for OBCs: "No escape for Government"". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  22. "Reserve 27% seats for OBCs in 3 years: Bill". 30 August 2006. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
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