Madhya Pradesh govt announces 27 % reservation for OBC

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath on March 6 announced 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes and 10 per cent quota for economically backward class (EBC) of general category.

Kamal Nath also announced to fill up 60,000 vacant government posts and 2 per cent hike in dearness allowance for government employees.

While addressing a public rally in Sagar district after distributing loan waiver certificates to farmers, the chief minister said, “The BJP leaders, who always boast about working in the ‘interest’ of OBCs, could not increase the quota for them during their 15 years of rule.”

With the hike in quota, Madhya Pradesh would have 73 jobs reserved for OBCs and EBC put together.

The population of OBCs in state at 3.70 crore, is more than 51 per cent of the total population of 7.26 crore. The scheduled castes constitute 15.51 per cent and scheduled tribes 21.1 per cent of Madhya Pradesh's total population.

The announcement of the hike in reservation is expected to have a major impact in the upcoming general elections.

While distributing loan waiver certificates to farmers in Sagar, Kamal Nath claimed that his government was working towards making 70 per cent of the population dependent on agriculture self-reliant.

The chief minister also laid the foundation of 33 gaushalas or cow shelters that will be built at an estimated cost of ₹10 crore, and inaugurated development projects worth ₹763 crore.

The chief minister also announced a special recruitment drive to fill up 60,000 vacant government jobs. “About 20,000 backlog vacant posts of SC and ST will be filled. The youth of the state will get an opportunity to join the government services through this special recruitment drive,” he said.

Kamal Nath also called upon the youth to take up small enterprises and avail of the government’s Yuva Swabhiman Yojana, under which they get a stipend of ₹4,000 per month for 100 days of work.

“I had promised to fulfil all that was said in the Congress Vachan Patra. In just 70 days, we have shown how we keep our word and ensure welfare of the people. Those who have been misguiding youth through tall promises, like Skill India, Make in India and Stand Up India have been exposed,” said Nath.

The hike in DA of the state government employees from 7 to 9 per cent announced by the Congress government will be effective from July 1, 2018. “The 2 per cent increase in DA will be added to the Seventh Pay Commission benefits in the employees’ salary,” said a government notification.

The state has 1.5 lakh employees who would be benefited by the hike.