Are Jammu and Kashmir’s new reservation rules skewed against the majority?

In March, the Centre granted the million-strong Pahari speaking community in Jammu and Kashmir the status of a tribe – despite fierce opposition from the Gujjar-Bakerwal tribal community.

Both groups, who live in the mountainous regions of Rajouri and Poonch districts, are politically important for the Bharatiya Janata Party in Jammu and Kashmir.

Before the addition of Paharis to the list of Scheduled Tribes, the Gujjar-Bakerwal tribal community cornered the biggest share of the 10% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for tribes. The prospect of sharing this with the Paharis, who are a more educated and affluent group, had led to much resentment among the Gujjar-Bakerwals against the BJP.

The Union territory administration, however, found a way out. It added 10% to the existing quota for the Scheduled Tribes, to be shared by the Paharis and three newly added groups – leaving the Gujjar-Bakerwals’ share of reservation untouched.

In this apparent win-win solution, however, many others believe they are losing out.

Kaiser Rashid is one of them.

For two years now, the 25-year-old from North Kashmir’s Baramulla district has been preparing for various government recruitment examinations.

But the 10% additional reservation for Scheduled Tribes as well as a jump in reservation for Other Backward Classes from 4% to 8% has eaten into...

Read more