The True Definition of Social Justice

Historically, social justice is not merely a poverty alleviation program.

The fundamental objective of social justice is to reclaim rights denied over generations, correct historical inequalities that prevailed in society, and create equal representation in power and opportunities.

Educational Inequality

For a very long time, the opportunity to receive education was denied to specific social groups. Education was turned into an exclusive privilege for a few.

Political and Social Inequality

Dominance of certain sections prevailed in centers of power, administrative governance, and social status. Other communities were continuously excluded from power.

Economic Inequality

As a direct consequence of long-term exclusion from education, employment, and power, those communities lagged behind economically as well.

Therefore, reservation was created as one of the vital instruments of social justice to ensure representation in education and employment in order to rectify this historical injustice.

Its purpose is not simply to eradicate an individual's poverty.

Its fundamental objective is to guarantee a rightful share of opportunities and representation to a community historically denied access.

Where Does EWS Stand Then?

This is the crucial question.

Is reservation a poverty alleviation scheme?

or

Is it a measure to correct historical and social deficits in representation?

If reservation is understood on the basis of "Right to Representation," the critique regarding EWS becomes clear.

Individuals belonging to communities that have been historically privileged in education, social status, and power may be economically backward.

It cannot be said that they do not need state support.

However, the question is: in what form should that assistance be provided?

The government can provide various welfare schemes—such as educational scholarships, fee concessions, employment training, financial aid, and subsidies—for the economically weaker sections.

But does combining an individual's economic status on the same foundation as reservation—which was created to correct representational deficits caused by historical social backwardness—alter the historical purpose of social justice itself? That is the primary question to be debated.

The Key Contradiction Regarding EWS

In the Central Government's EWS reservation, groups that already fall under SC, ST, and OBC reservations are not included.

This creates a peculiar situation.

Even if a family is economically backward, if it already falls under SC, ST, or OBC reservation, it cannot avail of the 10% EWS quota.

Conversely, a family from a forward class with the exact same economic status gets the EWS opportunity.

This raises the fundamental question:

Is EWS truly based solely on poverty?

or

Does it create an exclusive space for forward communities within the framework of reservation designed for social backwardness?

This is the core critique raised against EWS from the perspective of social justice.

The Struggle Against Poverty and Social Justice Are Not the Same

A crucial distinction must be understood here:

Poverty alleviation is one thing.

Social justice is another.

Poverty is an economic issue.

However, caste-based exclusion is a historical issue tied to social power, educational access, social status, and representation.

Therefore, both cannot be equated as the same.

The government must help those who are economically weak—there is no dispute on that.

However, the appropriate pathway for that assistance lies in poverty eradication programs, educational aid, subsidies, and social security schemes.

Equating that with reservation—which exists to correct social representation—is a separate issue.

Social Justice Must Not Be Diluted!

If we reduce social justice merely to the question of "Who is poor?", then the most critical question—"Who was historically excluded from power?"—will be obscured.

Social justice does not mean providing uniform aid to everyone.

Social justice means creating fair opportunities for those who were not treated equally, taking into account the historical injustice they faced.

Therefore:

Let us eradicate poverty!

Let us assist the economically weaker sections!

At the same time,

Let us protect, through reservation, the right to representation denied for generations due to social backwardness!

We must not conflate the two and dilute the historical purpose of social justice.

This is my understanding.

— Ooran