Former Union Minister Srikant Jena has urged the (NCBC) for action so that a minimum of 27% and ideally 54% reservation for OBC/SEBC communities can be implemented immediately in Odisha in higher Education-sector”>Education sector from this academic year.
In a letter to the NCBC Chairman Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Jena drew his attention to the deliberate negligence of the Odisha Government towards providing reservations to OBC and SEBC communities in higher education and Government jobs.
The OBC and SEBC communities comprise 54% of Odishas Population but receive 0% reservation in higher education despite the 2005 notification by the Government of India to provide a minimum of 27% reservation to the OBC communities. In addition, these communities only get 11.25% reservation in Government jobs instead of 27% as is the norm in all States of India. In contrast, 10% reservation in both higher education and Government jobs has been given under EWS category despite the general category population comprising only 6% in Odisha, said Jena.