Reservation for localites?

Today in my office bus as I was going through The Mirror, I got into this discussion with one of my colleagues over an article. The article was about a recently created political organization which is trying to establish itself by using a very old trick in the book. Their motto is simple “Localites must be given preference and have an upper hand in all sectors of the state.”

Coming back to my discussion! The point of debate was that should localites be given preference over outsiders? He was for it and I was against. Here is an excerpt from our discussion:

Him: I am for this. Localites must be given preference over outsiders. They have to bear a lot because of the outsiders.

Me: Are you serious? What do they have to bear because of the outsiders?

Him: Many things. Think of any localite that is from the non IT sector. He is paying more due to inflation caused by outsiders (outsiders are people who are employed in the IT sector and happen to work in this city).

Me: Are the outsiders causing the inflation? I didn’t know that.

Him: All the rates of commodities go up in an area because of them. The poor localites have no option but to resort to violence. They have to pay more for things, which they cannot afford.

Me: Hmmm…Then should the outsiders leave this place? More than half the money that the government generates here is through IT. Let’s shut down and get out of here.

Him: That would be good. But it is not possible. A good solution would be to give preference to the localites for jobs etc.

Me: Why? Aren’t they capable of fighting for these jobs at a leveled ground? Why preference?

Him: They can fight at a leveled ground. But since the outsiders are causing the damage, these people should get some preference as compensation.

Me: I am still not sure about what damage is being caused by the outsiders. In fact the outsiders are making the place better and the city overall is generating a greater revenue.

Him: No. What is happening is that the companies are gaining by getting cheaper labor from outside and the poor localites who cannot afford to work for cheap get left out.

Me: So what is wrong in that? If someone decides to work at a cheaper rate, isn’t that a personal decision. All companies always aim at profits. If they get cheaper labor from outside why shouldn’t they use it?

Him: By doing so they destroy the localites chances of getting employed.

Me: Then the localite should try and be competitive. He should also try and work for less to eliminate the outsider.

Him: In the end the employer gains. Besides how will the localite be able to afford anything if he works for less? Inflation is at 12%.

Me: How does the outsider afford it? If he can so should the localite.

Him: No this is wrong. If they want to work for cheap they should work in their own states. Even in education, most of the students in the colleges here are outsiders.

Me: If the selection criterion is merit, then what difference does it make if it’s a localite or an outsider? The best candidate will be selected. Be it education or a job.

Him: No. The outsiders pay money and get the seats. Education is more of a business nowadays. Localites should be given reservations because they cannot afford it.

Me: Taking donations is wrong. I agree to that. But we should fight against this. Giving reservations to localites is not the solution. Every selection should be on the basis of merit.

Him: No. There has to be preference for localites.

Me: For any institute which holds entrance exams at nationwide level, how can you even think of reservations? If you want to get selected, fight for it.

Him: That is what the localites are doing.

Me: No no! Not that kind of fight. No point in burning buses or buildings.

Him: This will bring a positive change.

Me: No change is positive if it involves resorting to violence and causing losses especially to the common man.


By then the bus reached my office. Though we could not convince each other, for us it was yet another discussion. Nothing more than a discussion!!

After all it takes more than courage to set right RIGHT! (Courtesy Shaurya)