TNI Bureau: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has written a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi urging early reconstitution of the Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes (OSCBC), which has remained non-functional after the completion of its tenure in January 2024.

In his letter, Dharmendra Pradhan pointed out that the commission became defunct following the end of its term on January 3, 2024, and the absence of appointed members. He expressed concern that the lack of a functioning statutory body has deprived Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) communities of an institutional platform to raise their grievances and seek redressal.

Highlighting that Odisha is home to 216 SEBC communities forming a significant section of the state’s population, He noted that these communities continue to face challenges in accessing equitable opportunities in education, employment and welfare schemes. He stressed that the OSCBC plays a crucial role in examining requests for inclusion in the SEBC list, addressing grievances, advising the government on policy matters and conducting surveys on social and educational conditions as mandated under the amended Act of 2020.

The Union Minister requested the Chief Minister’s personal intervention for the early reconstitution of the commission, stating that it would help uphold the principles of social justice and fulfil the aspirations of backward communities in the state.

The letter reflects growing concern over the prolonged vacancy in the commission and its impact on backward class welfare in Odisha.