Dharmendra Pradhan urges Centre to include Odisha's SEBC communities in Central OBC list
New Delhi (India), December 23
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, on Monday, wrote a letter to Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar to include 108 Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) of Odisha in the Central Other Backward Classes (OBC) list, raising the concern that these communities are not getting reservation benefits in Central government jobs and education.
"This discrepancy has resulted in ambiguities and interpretational challenges for the members of these communities, particularly when they migrate across states or seek access to central government services, educational institutions or employment opportunities," the letter stated.
Furthermore, Pradhan underscored the drawbacks of excluding Odisha's substantial SEBC population, including unequal access to national-level reservation benefits and welfare schemes.
Emphasising the importance of inclusion of these communities in the Central OBC list, Pradhan said, "It is necessary to ensure parity between the State and Central frameworks, while also advancing the cause of social justice and inclusive development," adding a detailed list of 108 SEBC communities proposed for inclusion.
He also asked for Virendra Kumar's personal intervention into the matter to promote educational and economic advancement among historically disadvantaged groups.
Last week, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at Parliament House to discuss the overall development of education in the Kota-Bundi region. The discussions focused on several issues related to higher and school education.
The meeting primarily focused on strengthening IIIT Kota as a world-class institution and improving educational quality in the Kota-Bundi region.
Om Birla said that Kota is a major educational hub in the country, with strong road and rail connectivity, and that air connectivity will be expanded in the coming years.
He had suggested that IIIT Kota be developed in line with the country's IITs. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that over the next 10 years, the student intake at IIIT Kota is planned to increase to 25,000.
Meanwhile, the Education Minister further said that IIIT Kota will introduce futuristic courses in Artificial Intelligence, Green Energy, AI Centres, Pump Storage, and Atomic Studies to meet global job market demands. Given the Chambal River region's natural resources and the presence of the Rawatbhata nuclear power plant, the area is highly suitable for technical and energy-focused education.
A special committee, directed by the Union Education Minister, has been tasked with submitting its report within one month to advance these initiatives.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good move. The migration issue is very real. A friend from Odisha faced so much trouble getting his OBC certificate validated for a central govt exam. This inclusion will remove such unnecessary hurdles. ðŸ‘
While the intent is good, I hope this doesn't become just another political promise before elections. We need concrete action and a clear timeline. The letter is a start, but let's see the follow-through.
Interesting to see the focus on both social inclusion and futuristic education in the same article. Developing IIIT Kota with AI and green energy courses is a forward-thinking approach. The country needs this dual focus on equity and excellence.
As someone from a SEBC community in a different state, I understand the struggle. This discrepancy between state and central lists creates so much confusion and anxiety for students and job seekers. Hope this gets resolved quickly for our Odia brothers and sisters.
The article mentions 108 communities. That's a significant number of people. Ensuring they have equal access to opportunities is fundamental. The principle of federalism should work for the people, not against them.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.