Rajasthan OBC survey to begin today; Commission calls for smooth deployment of staff
New Delhi, July 10
The Rajasthan OBC Commission will begin a statewide door-to-door survey of Other Backward Class families from Friday to assess reservation requirements for the upcoming Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Body elections.
The survey is scheduled to continue until July 23, after which the Commission will compile its findings and submit a report to the state government.
The State Election Commission is expected to announce the election schedule only after receiving the Commission's report, as OBC reservation quotas must be finalised before the polls can be conducted.
The OBC Commission has cautioned the state government that the ongoing transfer exercise involving government employees could disrupt the survey process and delay submission of the report.
In a letter to the Chief Secretary, the Commission noted that the state has permitted transfers until Friday and that employees from various departments, including those assigned to survey duties, are being transferred.
The Commission warned that if enumerators and other personnel involved in the exercise are transferred and relieved from their current postings, the survey could be adversely affected, resulting in delays in completing the report.
Acting in accordance with Supreme Court directives, the Commission has been tasked with preparing recommendations on OBC reservation for elections to Panchayati Raj institutions and Urban Local Bodies.
The Commission is expected to submit its report by the second week of August. Once the report is received, the State Election Commission may announce the election schedule by late August or September, with both Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Body elections likely to be completed by November.
The Rajasthan High Court had directed the state government to conduct Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Body elections by July 31. However, the deadline now appears difficult to meet, as the government maintains that elections cannot be held until OBC reservation is determined through the Commission's report.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Important move but typical government timing - start a survey while allowing mass transfers. The Commission itself has flagged this issue. If they want accurate data for Panchayati Raj elections, they need to freeze all postings of enumerators immediately. Otherwise report will be delayed, and we'll have another election postponement drama.
Supreme Court directives on OBC reservation are clear - need empirical data. Rajasthan is doing the right thing by conducting this survey. But completing by July 23 is too ambitious given the state's vast rural areas. Hope they deploy enough staff and use technology like mobile apps for data collection. Door-to-door in 13 days? Let's see.
From an outsider's view, this seems like classic Indian bureaucracy - start a critical survey but allow transfers that could derail it. The High Court said elections by July 31, but now seems impossible. OBC reservation is important, but government needs better coordination between departments. Survey data alone won't fix everything.
Good initiative but I'm skeptical about the timeline. Door-to-door survey across Rajasthan's 33 districts in just 13 days? That's nearly impossible for proper data collection. Also, Panchayati Raj elections have been delayed enough - people in villages need their local bodies functioning. Don't use the Commission report as an excuse for further delays.
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