Do we need reservations?

India has awaken to the reservations debate again. Do we need it? Isn't it reverse discrimination to allot quotas to particular castes. Shouldn't reservations be based on economic conditions?

I think its pretty important to understand why a society/country would need reservations. To me reservations are needed when you have a social strata that is at a disadvantage to reap the benefits of progress. Like we have with our caste based system. For a long time some people have been brought up thinking their job is to clean, make shoes etc. They dont have the same level playing field as many of us. So as a society, as a country, we need policies to help such people rise and progress.

However reservations should not be forever. Or else it would be reverse discrimination. It should be time-bound (for say 50 years) and all efforts should be made to make it successful during this time. Creamy Layer (families that have some minimum earnings) should be excluded from reservations. They are at no disadvantage than anyone else in the society.

Some people would prefer having reservations based on economic conditions of a person. I dont agree with it. You would have people with varying income levels even in a society where all are equals. Imagine a person who is poor because he does not want to work hard and is not skilled/intelligent/, though he had a level playing field. Extending reservation to his/her progeny seems unfair. Not doing good in life shouldnt qualify you for a reservation.
What we should be doing though is providing scholarships/loans to deserving poor students so that they can continue their studies and their economic backwardness does not hamper their education.