Caste-Based Reservations
Chalam, K.S. 2007. Caste-Based Reservations and Human Development in India. Sage Publications India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.
The present book by K.S. Chalam attempts to bring together some of the empirical data to present the factual position of caste-based reservations in India. It throws light on the almost two centuries old policy to find out its utility or uselessness for contemporary society. K. S. Chalam’s present book is an attempt to recollect the arguments for reservations, remove some of the misconceptions that gained currency since the V. P. Singh government’s move to introduce the Mandal Commission recommendations, and also to look at the notion of reservations in a post-liberalised, open economy.
The methodology of the book: It is primarily a socio-political analysis of the caste based reservations in the present time. Caste-Based Reservations and Human Development in India analyses the impact of such reservations on the target groups, as well as on major human development indices, taking into consideration time series data. Besides the study on human development through caste based reservations, K.S. Chalam also presented a case study of the impact of reservations on development taking Dalits in Andhra Pradesh. The book has two sections namely, “Present Status of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes” and “Impact of Caste-based Reservations”. The former section deals with the present status of the deprived groups and the latter section examines its impact on the targeted groups.
While talking about caste and economic inequalities in India, Chalam argues that it is the power which takes into account of the social relationship between two individuals or groups of individuals. Power is always exercised through domination and subordination. It depends upon the historical setting, social structure, and nature of the state and economy. Chalam states that caste has been used as a source of social and economic power since its
The present book by K.S. Chalam attempts to bring together some of the empirical data to present the factual position of caste-based reservations in India. It throws light on the almost two centuries old policy to find out its utility or uselessness for contemporary society. K. S. Chalam’s present book is an attempt to recollect the arguments for reservations, remove some of the misconceptions that gained currency since the V. P. Singh government’s move to introduce the Mandal Commission recommendations, and also to look at the notion of reservations in a post-liberalised, open economy.
The methodology of the book: It is primarily a socio-political analysis of the caste based reservations in the present time. Caste-Based Reservations and Human Development in India analyses the impact of such reservations on the target groups, as well as on major human development indices, taking into consideration time series data. Besides the study on human development through caste based reservations, K.S. Chalam also presented a case study of the impact of reservations on development taking Dalits in Andhra Pradesh. The book has two sections namely, “Present Status of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes” and “Impact of Caste-based Reservations”. The former section deals with the present status of the deprived groups and the latter section examines its impact on the targeted groups.
While talking about caste and economic inequalities in India, Chalam argues that it is the power which takes into account of the social relationship between two individuals or groups of individuals. Power is always exercised through domination and subordination. It depends upon the historical setting, social structure, and nature of the state and economy. Chalam states that caste has been used as a source of social and economic power since its