Critically discuss the reservation policy as an instrument of social change in India.

Reservation policy to SCs, STs, OBCs has led to their social mobility, signified by increasing share of these castes, classes in share of jobs, higher education etc. Reservation in state legislatures, Parliament, local self-government for SCs, STs has further deepened inter connections between different castes through tool of democracy.

India is a peculiar case with intermixing of caste and class social systems. Reservation is meant for social, educational advancement as higher castes cornered all jobs, education during historic, colonial times. However, there are cases of misuse and sectional benefits as SC, ST is not a single class. However, overall reservation policy has done great work in upholding constitutional values.

In recent times, there is an agitation seen against reservation policy. It is an outcome of failed economic policies, shrinking land and a hurt of ego as higher castes cant digest the upward mobility of so called 'lower castes and classes'.

M.N Srinivas gave concepts of Sanskritisation as a means of social mobility in ascripted caste structure. Reservation is part of Westernization. However, despite intended benefits of reservation as social change agent - more acceptability for lower castes, equal opportunities, equal citizenship; these have not been fully realized. Because in villages, lower caste sarpanch still sit on floor in front of high caste members, meagre representation in higher education, atrocities against caste, dalits; the continuing practice of caste-based manual scavenging etc. Thus reservation is not a panacea for all round social change but is an important cog in wheel of upliftment of lower caste.