One Nation, Many Barriers

Context:  Reserving jobs for locals is against national integration, and it is incompatible with Make in India for the world.

Rising Nativist tendencies among the states:

• Jobs for locals: Madhya Pradesh chief minister recently announced that all government jobs in the state would be reserved for locals. Multiple states have demands on the same lines – 

• Haryana has approved a proposal that 75% of fresh private sector jobs would be reserved for those from the state. 
• Telangana has a policy to incentivise 60% reservations in skilled jobs, and 80% in semi-skilled employment in new industries. 
• Andhra has reserved 75% of private-sector jobs for locals.
• Karnataka asks enterprises in the state to accord priority to Kannadigas in jobs. 
• Maharashtra has traditionally led in legitimising nativist politics and policies.

Nativist politics hurting national integration:

• Against the principle of natural justice or constitutional tenets: 

• Impedes free movement of people: Migration and inter-state flow of people are essential characteristics of our Republic. Nothing should be done to impede this vision.

• Failure of national parties to check regionalism: While state parties’ support for nativism is understandable, the problem arises when national parties fail to prevent their state leaders from giving in to nativist tendencies.

• National parties should act as bulwarks against such inward-looking ideas.

• Hurting the ease of doing business: In the post-COVID age, Indian states may not be able to attract global companies looking to exit China, if they pursue nativist politics. 

• It is not the template for ‘Make in India for the world’.

Way Forward:

• Focus on obligations of migrants: A Hindi speaking migrants in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka or Tamil Nadu is also expected to learn and respect the local language, customs and traditions.

• For, E.g. a Voluntary initiative by Karnataka minister encouraging non-Kannada speaking people in the state to learn the local language. We need more such efforts.

• Facilitating states: The Centre needs to consider felicitating states and governments that show exemplary efforts towards national integration and unity.
• Guarding against inward-looking tendencies: National parties must guard against inward-looking tendencies and aim towards national integration.

• The idea of India mustn’t be allowed to be held hostage to competitive, ethnocentric politics.