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Key Points

The government has clarified that OBC status and benefits travel with a person even if they move to a new state. This ensures access to reservations isn't lost due to migration. Separate initiatives like Garima Grehs provide safe shelters and skill training for transgender individuals. These homes also offer mental health support to help with mainstream integration.

Key Points: OBC Benefits Continue After Migration Virendra Kumar Confirms

  • OBC migrants keep benefits from their home state's list
  • Certificate issued based on father's genuine OBC proof
  • Exception allows inquiry through state of origin
  • 18 Garima Grehs shelter 429 transgender persons nationwide
2 min read

OBC benefits available to beneficiary even after migrating out of state of origin: Minister

Union Minister Virendra Kumar states OBC migrants retain benefits even when moving to states where their caste isn't recognized, ensuring continued access to reservations.

"An OBC person on migration... is entitled to the concessions/benefits admissible to the OBCs from the State of his origin - Virendra Kumar"

New Delhi, Aug 19

An Other Backward Class (OBC) person on migration from the State/UT of his origin to another State/UT where his caste is not in the OBC list is entitled to the concessions/benefits admissible to the OBCs from the State of his origin and the Union government, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar said on Tuesday.

In reply to a question in Lok Sabha, the Minister said the prescribed authority of a State/U.T. Administration issues the OBC Certificate to a person who has migrated from another State on the production of a genuine certificate issued to his father.

The only exception is in the cases where the prescribed authority feels that a detailed inquiry is necessary through the State of origin before the issue of the Certificate, he said.

In response to another question, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment B.L. Verma said that a total of 18 'Garima Grehs' have been set up in the country where 429 transgender persons are being provided shelter with amenities like food, medical care, yoga, meditation and recreational facilities.

He said Garima Grehs, supported by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE), are operational in 15 states, and approval for setting up three new Grehs has been sanctioned during the current financial year 2025-26.

Proposals for setting up Garima Grehs received from Non-Governmental organisations/Civil Society Organisations have been forwarded to 14 States/UTs, whose recommendations are awaited.

He said the residents of Garima Greh are not only provided with a safe residential area with all necessary facilities, but are also provided with life skill training, so that when they leave the shelter, they can be mainstreamed with a respectable mode of livelihood.

Garima Grehs also safeguard the rights of transgender persons and protects them from atrocities, said the MoS.

So far, Rs 8.25 crore have been released and utilised by the Garima Grehs under the Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) Scheme, he said.

Each Garima Greh has a Counsellor to provide mental health support and counselling to the beneficiaries, he said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good decision, but implementation will be key. How will state authorities verify certificates from other states? Hope there's a proper system to prevent misuse.
Siddharth J
The Garima Greh initiative is really commendable. Transgender community has faced discrimination for too long. Providing shelter, skills training and mental health support is exactly what's needed for their empowerment.
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Anjali F
Only 18 Garima Grehs for the entire country? That's too few! We need many more such facilities across all states. The transgender population needs much more support than this.
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Vikram M
Finally some clarity on OBC migration issue. My cousin had to return from Karnataka because his OBC certificate from UP wasn't accepted. This policy will help many families.
M
Michael C
Interesting policy development. The exception clause about "detailed inquiry" seems necessary to prevent fraudulent claims, but hope it doesn't become a tool for unnecessary harassment of genuine migrants.
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Nisha Z
Appreciate the government's efforts for both OBC communities and transgender persons. The life skill training in Garima Grehs is particularly important - giving people tools to become self-reliant is true empowerment.

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