The State Government’s plan to remove 10 castes from the central list of other backward castes received a setback in the absence of substantial facts as the President of National Other Backwards (OBC) Commission, V Eshwaria rejected the plan to remove these castes.
The decision in this regard was taken in a public hearing organised at Town hall here on Wednesday. The President of OBC commission ordered the State Government and Other Backwards Castes Commission to conduct a through survey and present a detailed report on presence of these 10 castes. The commission ruled that it would take its decision on the issue only after this report is submitted to it.
The State Government was planning to remove these castes as these castes have virtually no presence in the State. The commission also completed hearing on inclusion of 32 castes in the central list and reserved its decision. The central commission asked the State Government and state backward caste commission to conduct proper surveys and prepare report for inclusion of these castes.
The President of State backward castes commission Ashok Verma told The Pioneer that representatives of some castes were not present in the hearing. He said that he made a plea that one more hearing in Nainital district should be convened that many castes of Pithoragrah and nearby areas can make their representation. Verma said that it is matter of great appreciation that the Chairman of the national commission gave his valuable time to the state.
The members of National OBC commission SK Kharventhan, SK Saini, SUJ Ansari and member secretary SK Mangotra were present on the occasion.