The government on Thursday informed Parliament that it was mulling over providing reservation benefits to backward classes in proportion to their population.
The government on Thursday informed Parliament that it was mulling over providing reservation benefits to backward classes in proportion to their population. Social Justice minister Thawarchand Gehlot informed this in Rajya Sabha when the House took up the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2016. Along with this bill, which had been cleared by the Lok Sabha earlier, the Upper House later also passed the Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015, which seeks to amend a schedule to exclude production of alcohol for potable purposes from the ambit of the Act.
Earlier, while replying to the debate on the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2016, Mr Gehlot also said that the government was making efforts to release the caste census, conducted separately, at the earliest. The Bill seeks to amend the Constitution to include certain castes in the list of Scheduled Sastes (SC) in five states.
“One member demanded for reservation provision in proportion to the population of backward classes. We are thinking on that. If you can create an environment, we can do this,” the minister informed. The bill includes certain castes like Sais, Aheria and Peruvannan, in the SC list of states like Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Kerala, Orissa and West Bengal.
Earlier while debating the bill, CPI(M)’s K. Somaprasad had demanded that the government should consider increasing quota benefits in proportion to the growing population of backward classes.
“Reservation benefit is a constitutional right of SC/STs but some are denied of the benefit,” he said and expressed concern that backward classes were not getting SC/ST status after migration because some states do not recognise those castes for reservation benefits. Other parties members including BSP, BJD, Congress also raised the issue. To this, the minister said “if states want to include those castes in the list, they can do so and provide reservation benefits. They have powers to do so.” As per the Supreme Court verdict, the Central government officials, if they move to other states, will continue to get reservation irrespective of the state policy, he said.
Earlier, the Opposition, citing the case of Hyderabad scholar Rohith Vemula, accused the government of not being sincere in working for the interest of the Scheduled Caste. “I stand in support of the Bill with a sad heart,” JD(U) leader K.C. Tyagi, saying it was a matter of shame that caste system continues to exist in the country even after so many years of independence. He took on social justice minister Thawar Chand Gehlot and said he was disappointed that he did not visit the Hyderabad university after the death of Rohith.
Congress’s Shamsher Singh Dullo said he supported the Bill but expressed his anguish over the fact that people are still being persecuted because of their caste.
Taking a dig at the Modi government, he said celebrating B.R. Ambedkar’s birthday was not enough as intentions also have to be clear.
To a query on extending reservation benefits to converted dalits, the minister said, “The Supreme Court as well as governments in 1945 and 1956 have considered such subjects and every government has disagreed. SC status is given to those who are treated as untouchables. We are not in a situation to implement going beyond the Supreme Court judgement.”
Highlighting measures taken to address atrocities against this section, the minister said a law with stringent punitive measures has been put in place to protect backward classes.
On complaints that the government has not submitted the annual reports of SC/ST Commissions to the Parliament, the minister said all reports upto 2013-14 have beeen placed before the House.
BJD’s Dilip Kumar Tirkey demanded that the government should review the SC/STs list and updated it. CPI’s D Raja demanded that all dalits should be recognised in all states. He also sought reservation in private jobs.
