The Gujarat government on Sunday, 13 January, declared that it will implement the 10 percent reservations in government jobs and higher education for the economically backward sections in the general category from Monday.
The Constitutional amendment to provide the 10 percent quota received assent of President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday.
The new quota will also be implemented in admissions and jobs which were advertised before14 January but for which the actual process has not started, it said. In such cases, fresh announcement about the admission process or jobs will have to be made, it added.
However, if the recruitment or admission process – tests or interviews – has started before 14 January, the 10 percent quota would not apply, the release added.
Step to Remove Caste-based Reservation: Mewani
“The economically weaker sections from the general category will get 10 per cent reservation in admissions to higher education and government jobs starting Uttarayan on January 14,” the state government said in a release on Sunday 13 January.
Gujarat independent MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mewani, on Sunday, said the Centre’s move to provide 10 percent quota to upper caste poor is a step towards realising the RSS-BJP’s agenda to remove caste-based reservations from the system.
“I am apprehensive and so are the members of the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Class that this is the first step towards putting an end to the reservation on the ground of socio-educational deprivation. It has been a long-pending agenda of the RSS-BJP to discard the Constitution and end reservation based on caste system.”Jignesh Mewani, Independent MLA, Gujarat
The MLA also said the quota system was introduced in the country to give representation to socially and educationally backward people, it wasn't meant to end poverty.
“We have absolutely no issues with the poor people from the other communities getting any benefit. But reservation is not meant to remove poverty. It is meant to give representation to SC/ST/OBC people, who on account of the society’s caste structure, have remained socially and educationally backward.”Jignesh Mewani, Independent MLA, Gujarat
Congress Claims Announcement Creates Confusion
Gujarat Congress chief Amit Chavda criticised the announcement, saying it will create confusion.
“The government has said it will implement the provision from 14 January, which is Uttarayan holiday. The chief minister should explain the logic behind this announcement and the process to implement it.”Amit Chavda, Gujarat Congress President
The BJP government should also explain the status of a stay granted by the Supreme Court on the similar 10 percent reservation for EWS category in Gujarat that was introduced when Anandiben Patel was chief minister, Chavda added.
The ‘hurriedly made announcement’ will create confusion among the candidates, he claimed.
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