Urgent need for the creation of a Parliamentary Committee
for OTHER BACKWARD CLASSES
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The demand of the OBCs, the vast majority of the population of India (nearly 70 percent), for the creation of a Parliament Committee for OBCs is a long pending one.
When such a Committee was created for the SCs and STs with statutory powers, we could not understand the reasons behind the reluctance of the Union Government to create a similar Committee for OBCs.
The policy of reservation of 27% of employment opportunities in Union Government and other Public Sector Undertakings, as recommended by the Mandal Commission, was implemented from 1971 by the Union Government when late V.P.Singh, the Saviour of Social Justice was the Prime Minister.
Though much hue and cry was raised by the vested interests of the upper caste, opposing the reservations for OBCs, it was upheld by the Supreme Court of India after a long legal battle by nine Judges Bench - Indra Sawhney - vs - State. Inspite of this, reservation percentage was not properly implemented by many departments of the Union Government and even by the Union Public Service Commission. Instead of selecting candidates under Open Competition first, before selecting OBCs, SCs and STs, they select the reservation candidates under these categories first and then select candidates under open competition. This results in the deprivation of selection of meritorious candidates of OBCs, SCs and STs under Open Competition.
Similarly the policy of reservation of 27% of admissions in all educational institutions and Institutions of Higher Learning to OBCs was also implemented by the UPA Government under the Premiership of Dr.Manmohan Singh from 2006 onwards. After fierce opposition from the upper caste vested interests and after a prolonged legal battle, the reservation has been upheld by the Apex Court.
Even in the Central educational institutions, the policy of this reservation is not properly implemented. The meritorious candidates of OBCs, SCs, & STs are deprived of the privilege of selection under Open Competition.
Under these circumstances, it is imperative to monitor the proper implementation of the reservation in education and employment to the OBCs. This can not be monitored
by any other agency except a Parliamentary Committee like the one created for the SCs and STs.
Hence there is an urgent need for the creation of a Parliamentary Committee for OBCs. Mere creation of such a Committee is not enough, but it should be conferred with the same statutory powers under the Constitution of India as was done in the case of the Committee for SCs and STs.
It is very relevant to point out that the National Backward Classes Commissions is without any legal powers. It is highly imperative to cloth the Commission with ample constitutional and legal powers.
The OBCs, who form the majority of nearly 70% of the population of our country, are still lagging behind in education and employment and they have to fight for their rights at each and every stage.
It is somewhat gratifying to note that the members of both houses of Parliament belonging to OBCs have formed themselves as a Forum with Thiru V.Hanumantha Rao, M.P. of Rajya Sabha as Convener. This Forum is frequently meeting at the State Capital to discuss the ways and means to get their demands fulfilled. As decided in such a meeting held on 10-3-2011, a delegation of M.Ps. belonging to OBCs met on 17-3-2011 Ms MeiraKumar, Speaker of Lok Sabha and presented a memorandum demanding the immediate creation of a Parliamentary Committee for OBCs without any further loss of time. The Hon’ble Speaker has assured the delegation to look into and consider the matter favourably. The delegation is also going to meet the Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh shortly and present a similar demand.
We fervently appeal to the Union Government to come forward to create at an early date, a Parliamentary Committee for OBCs with all statutory powers like that of the Committee for SCs and STs.
