Dharmendra writes to Naveen over Quota for OBC, SEBC in Job, Education

TNI Bureau:  Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday wrote a letter to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Socio Economic Backward Classes (SEBCs) in the field of public employment and educational institutions.

Pradhan expressed happiness as the CM had constituted the State Commission for Backward Classes on February 12, 2020 after the Union Minster had written to the CM twice in the past.

However, the report of the commission is yet to be submitted and my request of reservations for OBCs is yet to be implemented, said the Union Minister.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, Union Minister wrote, “At the cost of repetition, but in the interest of people of Odisha. I would like to reiterate my arguments for the necessity of affirmative action in favour of State’s OBC and SEBC population. As you are aware, OBCs and SEBCs constitute a considerable portion of the total population in Odisha who have been historically deprived of opportunities in the field of education and employment thereby scuttling the socio-economic development of these disadvantaged communities”.

The letter further stated, “In view of the 27% reservations for Backward Classes enacted by the Government of India, significant reservations over and above this percentage have been enacted in states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka. The indecision and delay displayed by the Government of Odisha in taking affirmative action for OBCs and SEBCs is a glaring disservice to the spirit of balancing scales of socio-economic development in the State.”