Team Herald
PONDA: Rashtriya OBC Mahasangh Goa president Madhu Naik expressed his dissatisfaction with the government for failing to address their long-standing demands, including reservations in postgraduate clinical courses at Goa Medical College (GMC).
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Naik, along with a delegation led by former Union Minister Shrinivas Goud, met Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar to discuss their concerns. During the meeting, Shirodkar assured the delegation that he would take up the matter with Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phaldessai.
Speaking to the media, Naik stressed the need for a caste census in Goa, similar to the one conducted in Bihar, to ensure justice for the Bahujan communities in the state.
The delegation outlined several pressing demands, which include: 100-Point Roster-Based Reservation in postgraduate courses for OBC, Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Scheduled Caste (SC) students at Goa Medical College and Goa Dental College, Bambolim.
Establishment of an OBC Welfare Ministry in Goa, similar to Maharashtra’s OBC Ministry, which was created in 2017 following demands by Rashtriya OBC Mahasangh.
Construction of an OBC Bhavan as part of welfare initiatives, development of OBC Boys’ and Girls’ Hostels on the Goa University campus, for which the Ministry of Social Justice, Government of India, has already allocated a budget of Rs 15 crore.
They also demanded sanction of Rs 20,000 for final rites and rituals for 18 OBC communities, including the Bhandari Kharvi, which have been excluded from the existing provision granted to OBC Dhangar, ST, and SC communities.
These demands form part of a broader list of 14 issues currently pending with the Goa government.
Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar reiterated his commitment to raising the delegation’s concerns with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phaldessai.
The meeting with Minister Subhash Shirodkar took place at his official residence in Altinho, Panaji. The panel included
Shrinivas Goud, Former Telangana Minister for Excise and Prohibition, Tourism and Culture, Sports and Youth Services, and Archaeology, Madhu
Naik, President, Rashtriya OBC Mahasangh,
Goa, Sarvesh Bandodkar, General Secretary, Rashtriya OBC Mahasangh, Balraj Guttedar, Bhandari businessman and President of Gulbarga Jantata District, Karnataka, Krishna Murli, Representative from
Bangalore.
The delegation hopes that their demands will be addressed promptly, ensuring greater welfare and representation for the OBC communities in Goa.
