Q. Consider the following statements:
1. The ‘creamy layer’ refers to the more affluent members within a reserved category who may not need the benefits of reservation.
2. According to Dr. Ambedkar, economic disparities is the primary source of graded inequality in India.
3. The Mahad satyagraha was led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation –
Statements 1 and 3 are correct. The term “creamy layer” is used to describe the economically advanced members within the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and, in some contexts, within other reserved categories. These individuals are considered to be well-off and, therefore, not in need of the benefits provided by reservations, such as educational and job quotas. The Mahad Satyagraha, held in 1927, was led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. It was a significant protest against the caste system, aiming to assert the rights of Dalits to access public water sources, and it marked a pivotal moment in the Dalit emancipation movement.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar identified the caste system as the primary source of graded inequality in India. Graded inequality, as per Ambedkar, refers to the hierarchical nature of the caste system, where different castes experience varying levels of privilege and oppression, creating a complex social structure that perpetuates inequality.
Source: The Hindu
