Caste-Based Politics Gains Storm, BJP Says Odisha Govt Doesn't Care About Development Of OBC, SEBC

Bhubaneswar: The Naveen Patnaik-led State government continues to face criticism from the Opposition for proposing to conduct Socio-Economic Caste Enumeration of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes and Other Backward Classes (SEBC/OBC) along with the 2021 general census as the saffron party yet again cornered the government over the move.

Addressing a presser here, senior BJP leader Prithviraj Harichandan alleged that the Odisha government does not want development of backward classes in the State.

“The State government has not appointed OBC commissioner who is responsible for making recommendations on exclusion and inclusion of various communities under the OBC caste. It indicates that the State government is indeed least bothered about the development of the OBC,” Harichandan alleged.

He further said that the BJD government is lagging behind in implementing various provisions prescribed in the constitution for the development of backward classes.

“Odisha is the only State which has not implemented 27 per cent reservation for OBC in jobs and educational institutions which gives an impression that it does not want the development of backward classes,” the BJP leader said.

The State government should clarify as to why it has not appointed OBC commissioner so far and why reservation was not provided to OBC, he added.

Responding to the allegations, State Minister for ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare, Jagannath Saraka said Odisha government is concerned about development of SC/ST as well as backward classes. “The process for setting up of OBC Commission is already in progress. Several hostels have been set up to provide educational facilities to backward classes,” opined Saraka.

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