Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 14: It will be an “injustice” if the advantages of reservation do not percolate to all the intended beneficiaries and are reaped only by a few who are affluent, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said today.
“This reservation is not for rich people who anyway teach their children in big schools,” he said while addressing a packed house at the National Conference (NC) headquarters here on the 122nd Birth Anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar.
“This is complete injustice with you (people of the reserved category) if the benefits of reservation meant for you are availed by those whose children are enrolled in big schools and who are getting number of opportunities,” he said.
Omar said if the advantages of reservation do not reach all the sections of the community, then its aim would be defeated.
“If only a few benefit out of reservation and in general there is no progress, then I think it is injustice with you (people of the reserved category). Not only it is cheating with you, but with all those people who fought for these rights,” he said.
However, people cannot gather the benefits of reservation until they are educated.
“We have people who have utilised the opportunities provided to them under the Constitution and have achieved something for themselves and for their community. But, there are so many people who despite the reservation have not reaped its benefits and it needs to be corrected.
“But, it cannot be corrected until all the people of our society who need to get the benefits of reservation are educated. Until then, they won’t be able to reap the benefits of reservation in (the) true sense,” he said.
“Ambedkar has played a great role in framing the Constitution of this country, but even today we have not been able to fully utilise the provisions made by him in the Constitution for the upliftment of downtrodden,” Omar said.
The Chief Minister said the challenge facing us today is to work towards the path shown by Ambedkar and the goal which he had set, in which every community gets equal opportunities.
He said the real tribute to Ambedkar would be the resolve to educate each and every child of the underprivileged community.
“Education is very important, we may raise reservation to any extent but our children won’t benefit out of it unless we educate them.
“If you have been provided with the opportunities under the Constitution, it is your responsibility to take benefits out of these opportunities and it is the responsibility of the Government to help you attain a position where you can reap those benefits,” Omar added.
Taking a dig at political parties who try to woo the SC/ST community for votes, Omar said: “There are many people who want to win votes on the name of this community, there (are) many people to show dreams to this community, both within this State and outside.”
“There are leaders who gave representation to this community, gave them the leadership, they established themselves but didn’t do all that was needed for the community,” he said.
Omar appealed to the community to get united and as for as possible, talk in one tone.
“You need not to raise voice for your rights because I am here as your voice and protector of your rights. I will continue to be champion and advocate of your cause”, he assured them and said that he will work tirelessly for the upliftment of weaker sections of the society without any political consideration.
Omar referred to the historic land reform measures taken by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah where under poor peasants were made owners of agriculture land without paying a penny. He said creation of classless society where every citizen will have equal opportunity of growth, and status is determined by the actions of the individuals and not on the consideration of creed, caste, colour, region or religion has remained the bedrock of policy of National Conference since its inception. He said, he will continue to nurture this policy founded by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and groomed by Dr. Farooq Abdullah.
The function organized at Sher-i-Kashmir Bhawan was addressed by Minister for Planning and Development, Ajay Sadhotra, Minister for Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo, additional general secretary, NC, Dr. Mustafa Kamaal, NC provincial president Jammu, Devender Singh Rana, Chairman NC Schedule Caste and Backward Classes Cell, Ram Pal and senior NC leaders including Gurdeep Singh Sassan.
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