Affirmative Action in India

Nick Gillespie | September 25, 2006

Fascinating story in Wash Times about affirmative action in India:

Ramesh Jha, a Brahmin, came to New Delhi because he could not find work in his village in eastern Bihar state, where farming jobs have disappeared and almost all the government jobs are reserved for lower castes.

He now cleans toilets, performing a job once done by only the lowest of castes -- "untouchable" scavengers who cleaned excreta with their bare hands.

India's version of affirmative action has gradually taken hold over the past 50 years, designed to bring justice to those who were long oppressed by the Hindu caste system.

Now the government, using data from a caste census taken in 1931, is on its way to increasing the number of university admissions reserved for lower castes and tribal people to 49.5 percent from 22.5 percent.

More here.

Comments

|9.25.06 @ 9:57AM|#

almost all the government jobs are reserved for lower castes.

Just like the U.S.A.