The Jharkhand government on Wednesday gave its approval to a proposal to provide 77% reservation for members of SC, ST, Backward Classes, OBCs and economically weaker sections in state government jobs, an official said.
In a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, the state cabinet increased the OBC reservation to 27% from the current 14%.
The Hemant Soren-led UPA government also on Wednesday gave its nod to a proposal to use 1932 land records for determining local residents.
The decision was taken in the backdrop of the tribals’ demand that the final land survey conducted by the British Government in 1932 be used as the basis for defining the local people.
The developments come amid a political crisis in Jharkhand over threats to disqualify Chief Minister Hemant Soren as an MLA in an office of profit case.
Cabinet Secretary Vandana Dudel said, “The Cabinet has approved the Reservation Bill to amend the Jharkhand Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services Act, 2001 for 77% reservation for SCs, STs, Backward Classes, Other Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections. Permission has been granted.” reporters after the meeting.
It was decided in the meeting that the state government would request the Center to include this bill in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.
In the proposed job reservation policy, SC community will have 12% for local people, ST 28%, extremely backward classes 15%, OBC 12% and economically weaker sections except 10% from other reserved categories.
At present, ST gets 26% reservation in Jharkhand, while 10% for SC.
OBCs currently get 14% quota in the state and increasing it was an election promise of all mainstream parties in 2019, including the ruling coalition-JMM-Congress-Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)- in the current government.
Jharkhand Congress, which has been pushing for 27% reservation in government jobs for OBCs, termed it as a historic step and said it would prevent migration of people to other states for jobs.
Last month, Mr Soren approved the setting up of a panel to suggest issues related to reservation for SCs, STs and other backward classes.
The demand to increase the reservation limit especially for Other Backward Classes (OBC) in the state has been a long standing demand by all the major parties.