Govt inaction delays inclusion of 17 communities in OBC list

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 18

Dr Shakeel-Uz-Zaman Ansari, member of National Commission for Backward Classes, yesterday expressed concern at the delay on the part of the state government in sending a report of the survey of 17 communities to the commission.

He told mediapersons that 17 communities would be included in the Union list of other backward classes once the state government submits its report to the commission.

He stated that the Haridwar district administration had sent its report while reports from the remaining 12 districts were awaited.

He said the commission had been drafting plans to revive income cap of Rs 6 lakh for backward class communities who come under the creamy layer, with the aim of extending to them benefits of reservation.

Dr Ansari said the commission was committed to improving social and economical standards of backward class communities. He expressed concern that only 10 per cent staff employed in the Union Government belonged to reserved categories against the sanctioned 27 per cent quota for them. He said Dhiman and Rajvar, reserved categories from the state, had been included in the Union reservation list in order to extend to them reservation benefits.

State Backward Class Commission chairman Ashok Verma, vice-chairman Shamim Ahmed, secretary SC Devrani and others were present.