The commission set up by the Centre to examine the sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), under Justice (Retd) G Rohini, is all set to recommend a fixed quota.
The Indian Express reported that the fixed quota is expected to be between 8 and 10 percent of the 27 percent OBC quota for about 1,900 of the 2,633 castes on the central list.
At present, 1900-odd castes (almost half) have availed less than three percent of reservation in jobs and education, and the rest availed zero benefits during the last five years, the report added.
The Commission will also recommend that the classification is based on relative benefits availed and not relative social backwardness, that factors in parameters like social status, traditional occupations, religion, etc.
Sources familiar with deliberations of the Commission told The Indian Express: “OBCs have been defined already using a social criteria, we are not going to create a social hierarchy among backward classes. Several of these 1,900 groups may have been unable to avail the benefit of reservation only because they are minuscule in numbers, which restricts their access to education and jobs,”
“To correct this inequity, the Commission is likely to suggest that of the 27 percent quota, a fixed 8-10 percent be reserved for such groups. This comes to merely 2-3 percent of the total seats and won’t affect other groups but will create substantial opportunities for those left behind,” the sources added.
As pointed out in this Deccan Herald report, the earliest instance of sub-categorisation was proposed in 1955. A commission was set up by a Presidential Order under the chairmanship of Kaka Kalelkar on 29 January 1953.
Social status, educational benefits and government representation were some of the criteria that the committee took into consideration before submitting its report.
The Commission had asked the government for three extensions previously and is finally set to submit its final report by the time its term expires, on 31 May.
(With inputs from The Indian Express, Deccan Herald)
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