Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to include the states amended provisions, which provide 76% reservation to different communitie, in the 9th schedule of the Constitution.
In the letter, the Chief Minister stated that inclusion of the amended provisions of reservation in the 9th schedule of the Constitution would ensurejusticefor the deprived and marginalized sections of the Society, considering the special circumstances of the state. He has requested the Prime Minister to direct all concerned officials to take necessary action in this regard.
The reservation (Amendment) Bill passed by the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly in December 2022 provides for 13% reservation for Scheduled Castes, 32% for Scheduled Tribes, 27% for Other Backward Classes, and 4% for Economically Weaker Sections in the state.
The Chief Minister has also highlighted that 32% of Chhattisgarh’s total Population consists of Scheduled Tribes, 13% are Scheduled Castes, and 42% are from Other Backward Classes. Moreover, 44% of the state’s land is covered with forests, and a large part of the state is covered by inaccessible mountainous regions. These factors contribute to the state’s unique situation and the need for special provisions for reservation.