Bhubaneswar, November 25: Members of an OBC (Other Backward Class) organization in Odisha have on Monday protested here demanding 27% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions.
Currently, Odisha provides only 11.25% reservation in jobs and no reservation in education for OBC students in fields like engineering and medicine.
The organization has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, urging for a caste census and better support for OBC entrepreneurs.
Rabi Behera, the chairman of OBC Forum, said. "The state govt should conduct a caste census during the upcoming nationwide census and provide 27% reservation in the appointment of govt jobs and the admission of education institutions,"
He further stated that though the Mandal Commission report has been implemented in the country from August 7, 1990, the Odisha government has not taken it seriously, said Behera
He added that the BJP government led by PM Modi has implemented OBC reservation in admission in Sainik schools and central schools, 10 percent EWS reservation for general caste, the newly formed BJP government in Odisha is yet to take a decision on the matter.
Narayan Dalua, secretary of the organisation, said, "The previous govt led by BJD conducted a caste census through the OBC Commission. We urge the current govt to make the caste census public. We want the functioning of the OBC Finance and Development Cooperative Corporation to support OBC entrepreneurs and unemployed youths so that they can start small businesses.
