Mrunal Manmay Dash

Bhubaneswar: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday questioned Odisha government’s intent on their request to include Socio-Economic Caste enumeration in the General census 2021.

He alleged that despite possessing data from Mandal Commission in 1990 and SECC in 2011, Odisha government haven’t implemented reservation for people who belong to (Socially and Economically Backward Classes) and OBC (Other Backward Classes).

Pradhan came down heavily on the government for not implementing Mandal Commission’s report on SEBC & OBC and said, “The Commission had submitted their report in 1990. Since then all the states except Odisha have implemented the findings due to which it is the only state where students belonging to SEBC and OBC don’t get reservation in educational institutions.”

“Youths belonging to SEBC and OBC category are also barred from getting reservation facility in state government jobs too, because Odisha government has failed to implement the recommendations of the commission over last three decades."

“Even I had written a letter to CM Naveen in last July to implement the reservation system for SEBC and OBC in the state, but it was ignored,” added Pradhan.

Notably, the Odisha government in a letter to the Centre has requested to include enumeration of Socio-Economic Backward Classes as part of the upcoming census 2021.

The Union Minister has also welcomed the State government’s request while saying that the concerned Union Ministry will take appropriate steps after due consideration.

Meanwhile, no comments could be obtained from Odisha government in connection with the statements made by minister Pradhan.

https://youtu.be/8PHkBEccjtA

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