Jat–Patel–Maratha Demands

Jat–Patel–Maratha Demands

The paper “Dominant or Backward? Political Economy of Demand for Quotas by Jats, Patels, and Marathas” (EPW, 13 May 2017) by Ashwini Deshpande and Rajesh Ramachandran (AD& RR) analyses the socio-economic conditions of Jats, Patels and Marathas by the comparing them with other communities. This was done using the India Human Development Survey 2011–12 data by the National Council of Applied Economic Research in collaboration with the University of Maryland. The same data has also been analysed by Christophe Jaffrelot and Kalaiyarasan A in articles in the Indian Express (10 March and 3 May 2017). Their methodology is simple but the analysis is more convincing and aligned with ground realities than that of AD& RR who have made unsupported comments. To illustrate, AD& RR admit the disparity in access to government jobs between Jats and Patels, and Brahmins and Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), as an important factor for the demand for reservations (p 86 in AD& RR’s paper) but further explanation is deceptive. Brahmins and SCs/STs in Gujarat are 10% to 14% more likely to hold government jobs compared to the Patels with just 0.008% chance. Jats are also among the lowest in government jobs at 2.5% as against 12.5% of SCs (not cited by AD& RR).