Equating Social Inclusion With Income Inequality: A Note on the Recent Reservation Policy in Kerala

Abstract

Retaining of a hierarchical social order looms over the discussion on representation in all walks of life. Caste based reservation in India emerged in this backdrop as a panacea for social oppression and hierarchy; whereas the income-based reservation argument is a product of bridging economic inequality by keeping the view of class divisions. The LDF government of Kerala in its cabinet decision on November 15th 2017 brought a new recruitment policy in Devaswom Board – increasing the community-based reservation from 32 to 40 percent and an additional income based reservation to economically poorer Hindus belonging to forward communities. The current note is an examination of the rationale of bringing income based reservation over the caste based reservation; and in what way the policy is (in)compatible to address the intra community disparity with reference to government employment.

Keywords: Reservation, Devaswom Board, LDF Government, Kerala PSC

JEL Classification: J62, J68, J78, I38, Z12, Z13, Z18