The Government has decided to reserve 19.5%, 12% and 2% reservation for candidates from Other Backward Classes (OBC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) communities, respectively, in the forthcoming municipal elections.
Replying to a calling attention motion moved by Aldona MLA Dayanand Narvekar, Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao assured the Goa Legislative Assembly on these reservation figures.
“The absence of authenticated figures of these communities, the Government had decided to give “appropriate” reservation to them. Notification to this effect will be issued at an appropriate time,” he stated.
Narvekar, who expressed happiness at the decision, was highly critical of the Goa State Commission for Backward Classes for its failure to carry out survey of these communities as directed by the High Court in 2007. “The Commission, which is sitting on the survey for the last three years, doesn’t deserve to exist,” he derided and added, “It has committed contempt of court.”
Reacting to one of the questions raised by Canacona MLA Vijay Pai Khot, the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said the backward communities will not be deprived of due representation in the absence of any authenticated figures. “The data used for reservation in employment will be used till we get the actual census figures in 2011,” he mentioned.
In between noisy scenes were witnessed in the House over the issue prompting the Speaker to stand up and ask the standing members to take their seats and have a sensible discussion. MLA Pandurang Madkaikar alleged that the Opposition was opposed to the reservation.
Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar said BJP was not against reservation, but would like to point out in many places municipal ward numbers have been interchanged to keep out the backward community candidates out of the election process. The system of ward rotation for giving representation to backward classes needs to be streamlined, he mentioned.
Intervening during the noisy scene, CM said this was a very sensitive issue and no one should make comments without giving due thought. Parrikar mentioned there was no surety of the 2011 Census because the Government of India had not taken any decision on it.
Alemao reassured directions will be issued to the municipalities to find out how many backward community people were residing in their respective jurisdictions before the elections. In his reply to the motion, he mentioned as per the last Census of 2001 the population of SC in urban areas was 2.09%. This doesn’t permit reservation of a single ward in any of the municipal councils, he mentioned.
