TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Other Backward Caste (OBC) reservations will be increased back to 27 percent before March 2014, Social Welfare Minister Mahadev Naik said on Thursday. Presently the state has 19.5 percent reservations for OBCs after three communities Gawda, Kunbi and Velip were shifted out and included into the Scheduled Tribes.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a press conference at the secretariat, Naik said that a detailed report, presently with the Goa State Commission for Backward Class (GSCBC), will be submitted to the government, based on which the cabinet will take a decision.
“Once the report comes to the cabinet, a decision will be made. Before March 31, 2013 the reservation will be increased to 27 per cent,” he said.
In the wake of sustained demands for 27 per cent reservation for OBCs, the government called for information in this regard which came after nearly a decade.
About three months ago, after a preliminary survey of 19 OBC communities was conducted by the commission, block development officers (BDO) and chief officers were appointed as nodal officers to verify their presence in all the villages and municipalities. The BDOs and chief officers were then asked to display name-wise rolls at their respective panchayats and municipalities for the people to verify if the details are correct and this was open for public till September.
Meanwhile, Christian Shimpis, Christian Chamars and Christian Teli have proposed that the commission include them into the central list of backward classes.
Regular hearing to decide whether or not to include them in the existing list of 19 OBC communities is underway.
