The 124^th Constitutional Amendment was done to amend the Constitution of India to extend 10 per cent reservation in direct recruitment in government jobs and for admission in higher educational institutions to ‘economically weaker’ sections. The reservation seeks to provide for the advancement of economically weaker sections of all castes and communities including Christians and Muslims. It intends to help the poor among the upper castes.

In simple terms, reservation is about facilitating access to seats in the government jobs, educational institutions and even legislatures to certain sections of the population. In India, it is governed by government policies backed by the Indian Constitution. 

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The origin of reservation system is rooted in the age-old caste system of India. These sections of society especially those of lower castes have faced historical injustice due to their caste identity. Historically, William Hunter and Jyotirao Phule in 1882 originally conceived the idea of caste-based reservation system.

The reservation system that exists today was introduced in 1933 when British Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald presented the ‘Communal Award’. The award made provisions for separate electorates for Muslims, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indian, Europeans and the Dalits. After long negotiations, Gandhi and Ambedkar signed the ‘Ponna Pact’, where it was decided that there would be a angle Hindu electorate with certain reservations in it. After independence, initially reservation were provided only for SCs and STs and OBCs were included in the ambit of reservation in 1991 on the recommendations of the Mandal Commission.

INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR RESERRVATIONS

The increase in demand for reservation can be traced to the fact that it is being seen as a remedy for the adverse effects of ill-thought out development policies. A number of factors are responsible for violent agitation associated with demands for reservation. These are acute agrarian distress, increase in unemployment and loss of jobs among many others.

A widespread demand for reservations among different sections of society is being made; this includes Marathas in Maharashtra, Jats in Haryana, Rajput’s in Rajasthan, Kapus in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and Patel Patidars in Gujarat among many others.

Increasing reservation demands among upper castes are also arising from the fear of losing privilege and the inability to cope with change. Thus, upper castes have begun to feel disadvantaged especially in context of government jobs as they don’t get similar advantages like the backward classes.

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS FOR EWS RESERVATION

In a significant move to address demands of the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of the society who were earlier not covered by any of the existing schemes of reservation. The 124^th Amendment to the Constitution, 2019 was brought so as to provide 10% reservation for the weaker section of general category in direct recruitment for government jobs and admission to higher educational institutions. The Act amends Article 15 and 16 of the Constitution, by adding a clause which allows state to make special provision for the advancement of any economically weaker sections of general category. Accordingly, Articles 15(6) and 16(6) have been inserted in the Constitution to effect the reservation for EWS.      

ELIGIBLITY FOR EWS RESERVATION

The Union Government has set certain criterion to be eligible for reservation in EWS category. The reservation benefits can be availed by those persons who are not covered under the scheme of reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs and whose family has gross annual income below ₹ 8 lakh. Income shall also include income from all sources i.e. salary, agriculture, profession, etc., for the financial year prior to the year of application. Also, persons whose family owns or possesses any of the following assets shall be excluded from being identified as EWS, irrespective of the family income

• 5 acres of agricultural land and above.
• Residential flat of 1000 sq. ft. and above
• Residential plot of 100 sq. yards and above in notified municipalities.
• Residential plot of 200 sq. yards and above in areas other than the notified municipalities.

The property held by a ‘Family’ in different locations or different places/cities would be clubbed while applying the land or property holding test to determine EWS status. The term ‘Family’ for this purpose will include the person who seeks benefit of reservation, his/her parents and siblings below the age of 18years as also his\her spouse and children below the age of 18years. Further, the states will also determine the reservation criterion accordingly depending upon local factors. The applicability of the reservation is for both jobs in the government sector as well as for seats in higher educational institutions i.e. colleges and universities.  

CHALLENGES TO CONSTITUTIONAL STATUS FOR EWS QUOTA

As the Constitution stands amended, the only constitutional challenge left is conformity to the basic structure doctrine. So far, it has become an established principle that reservation shall have a cap of 50%. In the Indira Sawhney Case (1992), the Supreme Court said that such quotas cannot be provided for poverty alone. It has to be poverty plus social and educational backwardness and the backwardness should reflect historic injustice through generations. The court then said that reservations beyond 50% will hit Article 14 (Right to Equality). Half of jobs and seats in educational institutions must, therefore be for the general merit category. Equality is part of the basic structure, the court insisted. Hence, this step will also violate the Supreme Court ruling of Kesavananda Bharati Case which said that any amendment which offended the basic structure of constitution would be ultra vires.

CONCLUSION

Reservation is fair, as far as it provides appropriate positive discrimination for the benefit of the downtrodden and economically backward sections of the society. However, it also leads to associated problems, such as passing the benefits to only a privileged group who have already been benefited by reservation. The communities excluded from reservations often harbour animosity and prejudice against the castes included in the reservation category. When more people aspire for backwardness rather than of forwardness, the country itself stagnates. A strong political will is indispensable to find equilibrium between justice to the backwards, equity for the forwards and efficiency for the entire system.

I don’t believe in celebrating father’s day. 20th June of every year celebrated as Father’s day, that’s one day out of 365. What about the other 364 days of the year celebrating with you? What about the 364 days of the year being blessed with you? What about the 364 days of the year having you by my side?

THE BEST FATHER
It feels like I am 8, writing an essay about my dad. No, wait, did we ever write about our dad? I never did so. People are fond of writing about their mother, best friend, sister and maybe a brother. Don’t fathers deserve to be appreciated more often? I think fathers are the most deserving yet the least appreciated persons in our lives. So here, I would like to take a moment to give a tribute to the best man in my life, MY FATHER.
I know I have never made it easy for you to be my father but you have always done, and will always do, your very best. You have helped me learn things about myself. You have taught me patience, wisdom, kindness, selflessness, and how to care for others. Most importantly, you have taught me to give love unconditionally. I am sure there are a lot of lessons yet to be learned.
You’ve always been the best person in our lives. You have been the best son, brother, husband, father, and best person. I wish your father could be here to celebrate with us too. I bet he’d be so proud to see the dad you’re to me. We might have done some good deeds in the past that God has blessed us with you. And I pray every single day to be blessed with you for all the rest of my life.
People generally bond with our mothers but we tend to forget about the joy of bonding with our fathers. People forget how fun it could be to laugh with him, have a meal together, watch football matches, experimenting with new recipes, and hang with each other every day. Here’s to all the movie nights, hypothetical conversations, stupid arguments, and a flood of memories.
I’ll be with you every day. It’ll be just you and me in the hospital room as much as the nurses and doctors will let us be. I know you still don’t open your eyes and can’t talk, but I am sure you hear me and one day, I’ll see you smile again. I’ll wait for the day, till then I have plenty of thank yous to say and lots of hugs to give.
I love you, dad. You have always been the best dad to me.

In addition to the fact that dad has to hold down an everyday work, except he is likewise expected to assist when he shows up home, following a monotonous day’s worth of effort. This is what is generally anticipated of the advanced dad, and he is prepared to acknowledge the duty. As a rule, father will be the drill sergeant in the home, so he must be the hero, and the trouble maker. It’s anything but an extraordinarily troublesome occupation surely, and one that we as a whole should be grateful for.

History

Father’s Day was established in the US by Sonora Smart Dodd. Sonora’s dad was a Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, a solitary parent from Arkansas who benevolently brought up six youngsters. Sonora had caught wind of how Anna Jarvis had made Mother’s Day to pay tribute to her mom. Thus, she told the minister of her congregation that there ought to be something almost identical to commend fathers. She needed to respect and recognize the part of fathers and all dad like figures on the date of her dad’s birthday, which was June 5. The congregation didn’t consent to the appeal yet at last, Sonora persuaded individuals to take part. Consequently, the date was pushed, and the festival was in the end conceded to the third Sunday of June.

Significance

Father’s Day recognizes and honors dads’ contributions to their families and to society as a whole. Children have the opportunity to honor their fathers and father figures on this day, as well as all those who have played a significant part in their lives.

On this day, children celebrate paternity by recognizing their father’s efforts and contributions to the family. They shower their father with gifts, touching cards, outings, and dinners to make him feel special.

Some people also spend the day doing things that they can do with their father, such as hiking, fishing, camping, shopping, art and craft, or just hanging around watching TV. In India, most children have a stronger bond with their moms, thus this day provides an excellent opportunity for people to strengthen their bonds with their fathers.

Quotes for Father

Sometimes the greatest way to express your sentiments is to use a Dad quote. Whether you want to express your sentiments to your own father or share with the world how you feel about being a parent, these sincere examples can help.

“Thank God for the unique bond that exists between fathers and daughters. It has received divine blessings.”

“You helped me grow up to be a strong woman, Dad. I am grateful to you for creating a world full of love for me.”

“You’re the bravest person I’ve ever met, Dad. You’ve taught me how to be brave in my heart, mind, and spirit while remaining loyal to myself.”

“A leader, in my opinion, is someone who prioritizes the group’s well-being before his own. Fathers are in the same boat.”

“Fatherly love is the act of devoting your life to meet the needs of another.”

“A girl’s father is her first true love.”

“I never met a man who could compare to my father, and I never loved another man as much.”

“A father’s sorrows and concerns go unnoticed, and his love goes unspoken, but his care and protection remain a rock of strength throughout our lives.”

“She wasn’t alone; what stood behind her, the most powerful moral force in her life, was her father’s love.”

Family time offers many benefits, including building confidence, creating a stronger emotional bond between family members, improving communication skills, better performance in school and reduced behavioral issues, as well as providing an opportunity to make memories built on fun, laughter and togetherness. Children whose parents spend time with them and take an interest in their education tend to do better in school and complete higher levels of education than those whose parents spent their time at home pursuing their own hobbies, according to a study published on familyfacts.org. Providing essential guidance through studying and assisting with homework, as well as incorporating educational games, can provide children a positive influence, lead to emotional well-being and help them strive for higher levels of educational success as they grow.
Spending time partaking in everyday family leisure activities has been associated with greater emotional bonding within families. Both “core” leisure activities, such as playing a board game, watching television, gardening or playing outdoors and “balance” activities, which require a greater investment of planning, time and money, such as a family vacation or trip to an amusement park or sporting event, can have a big impact on the overall health of a family, according to research published by the National Council on Family Relations. Simply making it a habit to display interest in the well-being of your family members can lead to a willingness to share problems and build mutual respect between parents and children.

India is a huge country in which a lot of peoples live. Some peoples are not able to get food, get educated, survive by ownselves. So donation is made to help to them. Donations are given without return consideration. This lack of return consideration means that, in common law, an agreement to make a donation is an “imperfect contract void for want of consideration.” Only when the donation is actually made does it acquire legal status as a transfer or property.

In politics, the law of some countries may prohibit or restrict the extent to which politicians may accept gifts or donations of large sums of money, especially from business or lobby groups (see campaign finance). Donations of money or property to qualifying charitable organizations are also usually tax deductible. Because this reduces the state’s tax income, calls have been raised that the state (and the public in general) should pay more attention towards ensuring that charities actually use this ‘tax money’ in suitable ways.

It is possible to donate in the name of a third party, making a gift in honor or in memory of someone or something. Gifts in honor or memory of a third party are made for various reasons, such as holiday gifts, wedding gifts, in memory of somebody who has died, in memory of pets or in the name of groups or associations no longer existing. Memorial gifts are sometimes requested by their survivors usually directing donations to a charitable organization for which the deceased was a donor or volunteer, or for a cause befitting the deceased’s priorities in life or manner of death. Memorial donations are also sometimes given by people if they are unable to attend the ceremony.

Adline Castelino, who earlier won the LIVA Miss Diva Universe 2020 title, received praise for her well-rounded response in the question-answer round. Castelino, born and raised in Kuwait moved to India when she was only 15, to make a living and become a financially independent woman. Adline Quadros Castelino is born to Manglorean Catholic parents hailing from Karnataka. 

The 22-year-old is a public figure and influencer, she supports causes and creates awareness about polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as well as working to end the stigma around COVID-19.

In an interview with Pinkvilla, Adline said, “There was a big drive that I need to be in Mumbai and be a financially independent woman. I was like every other 15 years-old who didn’t know much about things and I believed there is something for me in Mumbai. I was shy sometimes. I used to think that with the marks on my body, I am not good enough to represent India.”

The 69th edition of the Miss Universe contest was held on Sunday night at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood. It was a scaled-down affair in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Andrea Meza of Mexico has been crowned Miss Universe for the year 2020, beating contestants from 74 other countries, including Miss India Adline Castelino, who came in fourth at the beauty pageant.

During the pageant, she was asked: “Should countries lockdown due to COVID-19 despite the strain on their economies, or should they open their borders and risk a potential increase in infection rates?”

To this, Adline responded, “Good evening universe. Well, coming from India and witnessing what India is experiencing right now, I have realized something very important that nothing is more important than the health of your loved ones. And you have to draw a balance between economy and health. And that can only be done when the government works with the people hand in hand and produces something that will work with the economy. Thank you.”

A day before the finale, she had penned down a heartfelt note on her journey through a video clip posted on social media. She had written: “If I could pen down this feeling without getting overwhelmed about how I felt as I stood there witnessing people around the world cheering, flags waving high and even if I missed seeing , I felt like I was home. I thought of you India and what we are going through. The love that people give you when they are hurting themselves is the purest form of love one can experience. I’m grateful to you that at a young age I have experienced that and if I could only show you what I saw that day! I saw hope, a hope that will be ours soon.”

The 22-year-old diva won accolades and hearts by wearing a saree for the National Costume round. The gorgeous saree was designed by Hyderabad-based designer, Shravan Kumar. She explained the significance of the saree in an Instagram post.In an interview, talking about her dreams and being proud to represent India at Miss Universe platform, Adline Quadros Castelino said, “As a young girl growing up in Kuwait with no exposure, I would always look up to Miss Universe with so much awe but never imagined a girl like me who had a speech defect and had marks on her body could ever represent her country on such a prestigious platform.”

This was India’s highest Placement in Miss Universe after Lara Dutta won the title of Miss Universe 2000. Castelino broke the 20-year drought of India’s non placement in the Top 5 of Miss Universe, which was previously achieved by Celina Jaitley,  who was the 4th runner-up in 2001.