Odisha’s Mohan Majhi Cabinet Wednesday cleared a proposal to offer 11.25 percent reservation in educational institutions to the state’s socially and educationally backward classes (SEBC) — a move set to benefit 231 groups in the state.
This is the first time that the Odisha government has announced a quota for backward classes in education. Announcing the cabinet’s decision here, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said it is a “landmark decision” to ensure the backward classes their constitutional rights.
“At a time when the Union government has taken a massive step toward social justice by announcing caste census, the state government has also marched a step ahead to empower the people from the socially and educationally backward sections. The decision has been taken based on Prime Minister ’s principle of Sabka Saath…Sabka Vikas,” said Majhi after the cabinet briefing.
Though the SEBCs are estimated to make up around 54 percent of the state’s total population, there is currently only 11.25 percent quota for them in public recruitment. Additionally, they are not entitled to reservations in education.
Significantly, in 2019 and 2020, Union Education Minister had written to the then chief minister to provide reservation to the SEBCs in education.
According to the CM, the move aims to promote access, equity, and inclusion, increase the gross enrolment ratio and enhance opportunities for marginalised and disadvantaged communities in Odisha in line with the National Education Policy 2020.
“This initiative ensures uniform implementation of reservation in admission for students belonging to ST (22.5 percent), SC (16.25 percent), SEВС (11.25 percent),” he said. Besides these, there is 5 percent for people with disabilities and 1 percent for ex-servicemen.
According to officials, the reservation will be implemented in all state public universities, state government and aided higher secondary and higher education institutions as well as undergraduate, postgraduate courses.
The government’s move in Odisha came at a time when both the Opposition parties — the Biju (BJD) and the Congress—have stepped up their pitch for increase in reservation for the backward classes in the state.
Hailing his government’s decision towards providing reservation for the SEBCs, the Odisha chief minister also took a dig at the previous BJD government saying it deprived the backward classes of their constitutional rights.
“Though proposal to provide a quota to the backward classes in education came several times, it was far from reality,” Majhi added.
