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MHA Proposed Reservation of 95% Jobs for Locals in Ladakh

Last updated on December 4th, 2024 Posted on December 4, 2024 by NEXT IAS Current Affairs Team  25

Syllabus: GS2/Polity and Governance

Context

  • The Union Ministry of Home Affairs’ has proposed 95% reservation in government jobs for locals in Ladakh.

About the Proposed Decisions for Ladakh

  • 95% Job Reservation for Ladakhis: 95% reservation in government jobs for local people with ST status in Ladakh.
    • Gazetted posts will be filled through Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC), not through the DANICS.
  • One-Third Reservation for Women in Hill Councils: 33% reservation for women in both Leh and Kargil Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDC).
    • The councils have 30 seats each, with elections held for 26 seats. 8-9 seats will be reserved for women.
  • Constitutional Safeguards:  A draft will be proposed to ensure constitutional safeguards for preserving Ladakh’s land and culture.
    • The government will declare Urdu and Bhoti as official languages of Ladakh.

Challenges Post-Article 370 Abrogation

Since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Ladakh has faced protests, with people pushing for:

  • Statehood for Ladakh.
  • Inclusion in the Sixth Schedule for tribal status.
  • Job reservations for locals.
  • A parliamentary seat for each of Leh and Kargil.
Sixth Schedule
– The Sixth Schedule was adopted under Article 244 of the Constitution with provisions for formation of autonomous administrative divisions within a state. 
1. The Sixth Schedule is applicable to what are officially called as ‘tribal areas’ in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura. There are 10 such ‘tribal areas’ at present in these four States.
2. These divisions, in the form of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), were granted certain legislative, judicial and administrative autonomy within the state.
– Composition: According to the Sixth Schedule, the ADCs administering a region within a state have 30 members with a term of five years.
1. The Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam is an exception to this with more than 40 members and rights to make laws on 39 issues.
– Jurisdiction: ADCs can make laws, rules and regulations with regard to land, forest, water, agriculture, village councils, health, sanitation, village and town level policing, inheritance of property, marriage and divorce, social customs, and mining, among other issues.
1.  ADCs also have powers to form courts to hear cases where both parties are members of Scheduled Tribes and the maximum sentence is less than 5 years in prison.

Arguments in favour of Reservation of Jobs in States

  • Addresses Regional Disparities: Ensures job opportunities for people from underdeveloped or remote regions, promoting regional balance and development.
  • Reduces Migration: By offering local employment opportunities, reservation can reduce migration to larger cities, which alleviates urban overcrowding and ensures balanced regional development.
  • Encourages Local Talent Development: Reservation helps develop and utilize local talent, leading to a more skilled workforce within the state, which can contribute to long-term growth.
  • Boosts Economic Development: Unlocks the potential of marginalized communities, contributing to overall economic growth and reducing inequality.
  • Constitutional Mandate: Affirmative action is constitutionally supported to ensure the upliftment of socially and economically backward groups.
  • Improves Government Services: Local representation in government jobs ensures more responsive and regionally aware public service delivery.

Arguments against Reservation of Jobs in States

  • Undermines Meritocracy: Reservation can lead to the selection of less qualified candidates, prioritizing quotas over merit and potentially lowering job standards.
  • Encourages Regionalism: Reservation based on state or regional criteria can fuel regional disparities, division, and resentment between different areas of the country.
  • Hinders National Unity: It can deepen the divide between states, as individuals from other regions may feel excluded or discriminated against, undermining the idea of national integration.

Source: TH

 
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