( Samatha )

We don’t have such specific information. Check http://www.kar.nic.in/ and identify relevant department. Go personally and meet some of the higher ups.

(Samatha)

There are many welfare schemes for the poor. Look at election manifestos of any political party. There is a system of reservation based on economic conditions. Its called “Payment Seats”. You don’t feel the same way about merit not being considered in payment seats. There is a system of reservation in appointing jobs based on caste in temples. Only brahmins, irrespective of their learning, can be appointed as priests or temple managers. Where is the merit here ? Why you don’t question it ? Caste happens to be a reliable indicator of economic and social backwardness. Reservation based on caste is NOT just a welfare scheme, its also a SOCIAL JUSTICE scheme. There is merit scholarships based on income criteria. Do you know those beneficiaries. Go check them out in your college. Go to their houses and talk to them. Then let us talk about Reservations for poor. We would support a small quota for the poor also. But, that has to be in addition to existing Reservations based on caste. Corruption and fraud is rampant in india. At least, claiming benefits based on caste is little difficult because of the stigma. When the govt officials talk to your neighbor to verify your caste claims, its not very nice. Of course, if you have money, you will bribe them. Unlike income, caste claims will stick to you. Its not easy to carry that stigma around your colleagues and fellow students. Whereas, poverty can always be shed saying that one found hidden treasures or some affluent relative gifted them generously !!! Friend, this is a practical scheme.

If you think, dalits don’t deserve these benefits, go to a new village and live there for 2 weeks telling everyone that you are a dalit. Experience the horrors of caste based discrimination. If you care enough, spend some time on samatha. It will provide you a feel for “dalit misery”.