After 10-day stand-off between Gujjars and Rajasthan government in 2015, the state government announced to bring two laws. First, 5 percent reservation to Gujjars in the Special Backward Classes category and second 14 percent reservation for the Economically Backward Classes among the upper castes.
Rajasthan government is now facing a new challenge as EBC (economic backward class) wants 14 percent reservation. In fact, a Bill for wants 14 percent reservation was passed in the Rajasthan Assembly in September 2016.
On Monday afternoon, a meeting held between the social justice minister Arun Chaturvedi and representatives of Rajput outfits. During this meeting, the minister assured them to finalise a survey of the backward upper castes till December for reservation.
While affirming that the State government was committed to providing reservation to EBCs, Mr. Chaturvedi said a number of schemes had been launched to extend educational, coaching and hostel facilities to the children of poor families of higher castes.
However, the Sarva Brahmin Mahasabha has accused the BJP government of being insincere in enforcing the quota Act and announced that it would launch a public awareness campaign on the issue.
“The minister told us that the government is currently conducting a survey across the state to support the quota demand of the EBC. However, the flood has affected many areas including Barmer, Jalore, Jodhpur, Sikar halting the survey. The minister assured us to finish the survey report by December,” said Karan Rathore, spokesperson of Rashtriya Karani Sena.
The Rajasthan Economically Backward Classes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutes and Appointments and Posts in Services) Act, 2015, if notified and enforced, will take the overall quota in the State to 68 per cent.
