TAUSEEF AHMAD
SRINAGAR, Dec 04: A day after the Omar Abdullah–led Cabinet submitted its long-awaited reservation rationalisation report to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, resentment erupted across parts of Jammu and Kashmir as students belonging to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and Rural Backward Area (RBA) categories voiced strong opposition. They accused the government of introducing changes that disproportionately undermine the interests of marginalised Kashmiri-speaking communities, many of whom rely on reservations as their primary ladder of social advancement.
Although the government has not yet released an official notification or provided a detailed breakdown of the revised quotas, reports circulating in the media have intensified fears among students. These reports suggest a possible reduction of around seven percent in the EWS quota and three percent in the RBA quota—cuts that students say would fall almost exclusively on communities in Kashmir. They argue that this selective reduction would not only decrease opportunities for thousands of aspirants but also create new social rifts in a region already grappling with economic disparities.
Showket Ahmad, a resident of Bandipora, said that these proposed cuts threaten to set back entire populations living in geographically challenging and economically fragile conditions. According to him, only a fraction of Bandipora’s population resides in the town area, while the majority lives either along the banks of Wular Lake or in mountainous terrains where most households fall under the RBA category. Reducing their reservations, he said, would push these families deeper into hardship. “This is extremely concerning. Instead of uplifting the poor, the government is creating divisions among our own people. These are communities that have already suffered enough,” he said.
A postgraduate student from Baramulla expressed similar frustration, saying students had expected a balanced and equitable policy review but instead found themselves confronted with what they see as another blow to the economically vulnerable. He said many EWS students struggle even to pay their semester fees, and curtailing their quota would close the doors of opportunity for them. According to him, categories like SC, ST, and Open Merit have leaders and representatives who consistently voice their concerns, whereas EWS and RBA students have no one to advocate for their rights. “They are being targeted because they cannot raise their voice,” he said.
Another student, Aasif Maqbool, questioned the existing inconsistencies within the reservation system. He said that while many families in the SC and ST categories have significantly improved their socioeconomic status, they continue to enjoy reservation benefits, whereas students in the EWS category lose eligibility the moment their families show even slight economic improvement. “This creates a sense of injustice. Those who have genuinely struggled their whole lives are losing the little support they receive, while others continue receiving benefits simply because of linguistic or historical classifications,” he said.
The students urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to review the report impartially and ensure that no section is pushed into further deprivation. Their appeals were echoed on the streets of Srinagar on Thursday, where the Open Merit Students Association (OMSA) staged a protest, rejecting the Cabinet’s recommendations as “cosmetic amendments.” The association’s leaders demanded that the government make the report public before seeking approval from the LG, arguing that transparency is vital for maintaining trust in such a sensitive policy decision. They said that forwarding the report without first placing it in the public domain raises doubts about the intentions behind the proposed changes and undermines accountability. They also questioned why the proposal to introduce division-wise reservation—an idea widely discussed in political and academic circles—was omitted entirely from the committee’s recommendations.
Some student representatives also raised concerns about the composition of the committee responsible for drafting the report, alleging a conflict of interest because all its members reportedly belong to reserved categories. They said the absence of consultations with students, who are directly affected by the policy, further weakens the credibility of the process.
Jammu and Kashmir Students Association President Nasir Khuehami said the committee failed to seek input from relevant stakeholders before finalising the document. He stressed that the issue should not be framed as a battle between Jammu and Kashmir or between Gujjars and Paharis, as some groups have been attempting to portray it. Instead, he said, the focus should remain on ensuring fairness and preventing any community from being pushed into conflict. According to him, targeting EWS and RBA could deepen social divisions and threaten the region’s fragile cohesion. He urged the government to rethink the proposed cuts and uphold constitutional principles of equality and justice.
In contrast, several legislators from the National Conference welcomed the submission of the report, calling it a fulfilment of the party’s promise to rationalise the reservation policy. NC Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said the turmoil surrounding the policy was created by the BJP and PDP, and the current government has taken a step towards resolving it. He said the National Conference has submitted a balanced report to the LG and hopes it will be approved soon in the interest of the people.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah echoed this sentiment, saying the Cabinet has rationalised reservation “in the best possible way.” He said the government took considerable time to prepare the report because it was a sensitive issue on which political parties often resort to opportunistic rhetoric. The priority, he said, was to deliver a fair recommendation rooted in public interest.
As the report now awaits the LG’s approval, student bodies have warned of launching a coordinated agitation if their concerns are ignored. With political leaders defending the changes and student organisations intensifying their protests, the reservation debate in Jammu and Kashmir has entered a tense and decisive phase, with the coming days expected to shape the region’s future policy landscape.
