Affirmative Action Meaning, Functions and Significance

Affirmative action is a set of rules and policies that aims at reducing the discrimination of a group of people who are discriminated against in a particular area where they are marginalized. Affirmative action is commonly known as positive action. It is a bunch of policies whose main objective is to reduce the discrimination of such groups of people who have been historically discriminated against. Affirmative action bridges the gap between the equal and the unequal by promoting equal wages, the right to education for all, reducing gender disparity, protesting against discrimination, etc.

What is Affirmative Action?

Affirmative action is a set of rules implemented by the government of any country seeking equal representation of the different sections of society. It helps reduce discrimination against gender, caste, creed, race etc. It also focuses on amending the historical wrongs faced by certain sections of a country. It ensures the prohibition of unlawful discrimination in the future and the system of hiring fairly.

The Table Below Shows the Various Dimensions of Affirmative Action

Objectives of Affirmative Action	Equal treatment for all
Target groups of affirmative action	The marginalized sections of the society
Fields of affirmative action	Employment, Education, Politics, etc.
Advantages of affirmative action	Development, Inclusion, Diversity, etc.
Examples of affirmative action	Reservation of seats, Recruitment, etc.
Challenges to Affirmative Action	Protest from a certain section, discrimination

Origin of Affirmative Action

The origin of the term “affirmative action” can be traced back to the late 20th century. The United States used the term against the backdrop of the movements by civil society demanding equal treatment and justice against discrimination. It is associated with the Civil Rights Acts of 1964. In 1951, the term was first used by the then-President of the United States Mr. John F. Kennedy.

Function of Affirmative Action

The function of affirmative action is to address historical inequalities by promoting equal opportunities for underrepresented groups. Its function is to level the playing field in areas like education and employment, ensuring fair access for individuals facing systemic disadvantages based on factors like race, gender, or caste. By implementing policies such as reservations, the goal is to create a more diverse and inclusive society, fostering social justice and breaking down barriers that hindered marginalized communities. Affirmative action strives to bridge gaps, uplift marginalized groups, and contribute to a more equitable and harmonious community, ultimately promoting diversity and dismantling systemic discrimination.

Significance of Affirmative Action

Affirmative action is one of the most important facets of any government. The significance of affirmative action is as follows:

• Enhancing diversity: Affirmative action enhances diversity within the country. It promotes people from various backgrounds irrespective of their culture, sexual orientation, religious practices, and gender etc.
• Promoting equality: Affirmative action promotes equality of people in every field including education, employment, healthcare, wages etc. It creates a feeling of inclusion among the people who have been wronged throughout history.
• Ensuring quality and development: Affirmative action ensures that the overall quality in the service sector and any other field is maintained as people of different genders, merit, ethnicity, and culture come together and work. It helps in the development of the country.

Affirmative Action in India

Affirmative action in India is evident in various fields such as reserving seats for the backward classes as well as the scheduled caste and scheduled tribes in educational institutions funded by the government of India. We see affirmative action in government services too where public servants are appointed from all over the nation. One classic example of affirmative action in India is the seat reservation in the parliament and the legislatures of the states.

Article related to Affirmative Action in Indian Constitution

In the Indian context, affirmative action is part of the Constitution, which is like a rulebook for the country. Specifically, it’s in Articles 15(4) and 16(4) of the Indian Constitution. These articles allow the government to make special provisions for the advancement of certain groups, like Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The idea is to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, has an equal chance to succeed and participate in education, jobs, and public life.

So, affirmative action in India is essentially a way to create more equal opportunities for those who have been historically disadvantaged, as outlined in the Indian Constitution.

Challenges to Affirmative Action

There are several challenges to affirmative action. The challenges include:

• Protest from the non-marginalised section: Some people find affirmative action to be unfair and a misuse of power. They feel that it attaches a stigma to those who are underprivileged. Hence, it increases discrimination more.
• Limitations of fields: Affirmative action is unable to address the unequal treatment in fields like poverty, beliefs, and temperament of people. It creates a negative impact on the people of a society.

Conclusion

Affirmative Action promotes equal treatment for everyone. The people are given opportunities from every background, caste, creed, gender to contribute towards the development of the country. It helps people who are afraid to let their voices out and also those who were shut off for years and discriminated against wrongly.

FAQs on Affirmative Action

1. What is the idea behind Affirmative Action?

The idea behind affirmation is to bridge the wide gap between the different sections of society. It helps the disadvantaged groups who have faced discrimination since time immemorial.

2. Does Affirmative Action tends to include individuals who are less qualified?

Affirmative action does not tend to include individuals who are less qualified. In fact, it ensured that the more qualified individuals are included as there is a chance to choose people from a wide range of options including different caste, creed, gender, race etc.

3. Affirmative Action is applicable to which group of people?

Affirmative action is applicable to the marginalized sections of the society who are oppressed historically. This group includes the minorities of a country, the backward classes, races who are discriminated in a society, the women and specially abled person.

4. What are the Four Goals of Affirmative Action?

The four goals of affirmative action are as follows: reducing disparities in wages and employment, ensuring access to education to all, promoting variety, addressing past wrongs and fixing them along with the obstacles and loss.

5. What are the Measures Undertaken by Affirmative Action?

The measures undertaken by affirmative action are promoting equality among all by hiring people irrespective of their gender, caste, sex, creed, creating education opportunities for them, fixing past mistakes etc. The pay parity is also promoted by it.