The State Government seems to be confused over inclusion of the transgender under which class of the Socially and Economically Backward Class (SEBC) in order to facilitate reservation for them in Government jobs.
Though the Government is mulling to put the third gender under the SEBC category, it is in a dilemma whether they would be provided reservation in women or men class.
While the number of SEBC candidates is on the rise in the State, the percentage of reservation allotted to them in the employment sector has been reduced to 11.25 per cent. Since, one third has been reserved for women in Government services, discussion was underway that in which category the transgender be provided reservation.
Meanwhile, the All-Odisha Eunuch Association (AOEA) has demanded at least 5 per cent reservation of Government jobs and electoral seats from the beginning from the panchayat level to Parliament.
While the reservation for SEBC in Government jobs has been reduced to 11.25 per cent from 27 per cent, the transgender community is scheduled to be included under the category.
It indicates the candidates under the backward class would be deprived more to get the Government’s favour in job sector if other community would be added into this category.
According to the Supreme Court’s order, the reservation cannot be exceeded from 50 per cent for people under all the categories in the Government jobs.
Earlier, the State had 11.25 per cent reservation for the SEBC. later, it was extended to 27 per cent against which a civil service candidate had approached the SAT, Odisha High Court and the Supreme Court. Following the court’s order, the Government had to reduce the seat to 11.25 per cent.