SEBC reservation in admissions: Politics intensifies after Odisha Cabinet decision

Political debates were triggered in Odisha following the State Cabinet's decision granting reservations in the education sector for the socially and economically backward classes (SEBCs). The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) criticised this move on Thursday, describing it as a ‘riddle’.

Also Read: Odisha cabinet clears seat reservation for SEBC students in admissions

BJD MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo expressed ‘partial gratitude’ towards the State government for the limited reservations announced.

“The BJP-led Odisha Government has taken a decision in the Cabinet meeting to give 11.25% reservation to the SEBC or OBC students. However, our demand was that in the engineering and medical studies, they should be given a reservation, which they have not given. My first question to the Government, in Plus II and Plus III, PG and other classes, the seats are lying vacant. If the seats are lying vacant, then where does the question of reservation to give to the SC and ST students and OBC students arise? We had demanded a 27% reservation for OBC students. In the higher education studies, though the number or percentage of the SC-ST is 38.75%, they have been accorded 20% (reservation). Right now, they (the current government) have declared to give 38.75% reservation to SC-ST students in general studies where the seats are lying vacant. This is entirely cheating,” the BJD leader Sahoo alleged.

Cabinet's decision, a ‘cruel joke’: Srikant Jena

Meanwhile, Congress leader Srikant Kumar Jena labelled the Cabinet's decision as a ‘cruel joke’. He harshly criticised the measures taken for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and SEBCs after discussions during the Cabinet meeting.

“Odisha Cabinet has decided to give 11.25% reservation to SEBC category, alone in general education, but not in technical education, the demand was for technical education. The Odisha government is silent on that. The same is the case with SC and ST students; they are not getting beyond 20% of the reservation in technical education. The decision must be withdrawn. What is the point in it without giving reservations to SEBC and OBC students in medical, engineering, and other technical fields?” Congress leader Jena questioned.
In defence of the Cabinet decision, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj emphasised that those (BJD-led government) who had not initially provided reservation have no right to say more or less now. The State government has ensured social justice.

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“A historic decision has been taken by the Cabinet. All SEBC students will benefit from this during admissions. Those who are questioning this do not have the right to question at all. We are implementing this nearly 35 years after the Mandal Commission was formed. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had written to the then CM and current Leader of Opposition (Naveen Patnaik) several times and held discussions with him, but they (BJD-led government) were not doing it. They were providing 0% reservation. We have implemented this for social justice. BJP stands for the SC, ST, and all backward communities in society,” Minister Suryabanshi Suraj expressed.