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Title: Need to take steps to monitor the progress in implementation of reservation for Other Backward Classes.
PROF. M. RAMADASS (PONDICHERRY): Indian society is a variegated one comprising Other Backward Classes, SCs, STs, Minorities and other communities. Other Backward Classes, according to Mandal Commission Report constitute about 52 percent of the total population. Their socio-economic conditions as per Tenth Five Year Plan document are no different from those of SCs and STs. Although, the Indian Constitution provides for reservation to this section of the community, we have not implemented the reservation policy with respect to OBCs till 1990 after Mandal Commission. Without any reservation, 12.5 percent of the Central Government jobs were occupied by the OBCs, but the Solicitor General of India submitted to the Supreme Court of India that only 5.3 per cent of the total jobs go to OBCs as on 1.1.2005. On the other hand other communities (OCs), which form only 6.1 percent of the population corner 71.6 percent of the Central Government jobs. This is a shocking injustice meted out to the OBCs. The Government has to seriously think of this grave injustice and take remedial measures. It is more significant in the background that the Government has not yet implemented reservation in education as recommended by the Mandal Commission even today. Therefore, there is no scope for OBCs to come up in the socio-economic ladder of the country. Therefore, I urge upon the Government of India to monitor the progress of OBCs in all spheres. For this purpose, I request the Government to constitute a Committee for the welfare of Other Backward Classes immediately on the lines of Standing Committee on SCs and STs.