Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led cabinet on Tuesday passed a proposal to raise the quota for Backward Classes, Extremely Backward Classes, and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) to 75 per cent in the state. The move came after Nitish Kumar proposed raising their quota during his address in the Bihar Assembly.
Earlier today, Nitish Kumar proposed to increase the reservation for Backward Classes, Extremely Backward Classes to 65 per cent and another 10 per cent for EWS.
The cabinet has further decided to table the Bill in the State Assembly to raise the quota for Backward Classes on November 9.
There were preparations in advance, hence the Nitish's cabinet approved the Bihar Reservation Bill 2023 as soon as the caste census report was presented in the Assembly.
According to the Supreme Court order, the reservation limit cannot be increased by more than 50 percent. In such a situation, after passing the bill from both the Houses, the State government can send the proposal to the Centre. Nitish Kumar had also talked about sending the proposal to the Center in the Legislative Council today.
Speaking on the matter, BJP leader Sushil Modi said, "If the rights of the Extremely Backward Classes are not safeguarded, the increased reservation would not be beneficial to them... Ward-wise and Panchayat-wise data should be published... We will also raise this in the assembly... The government did not say anything about the reservation in Panchayat and civic body elections. We want them to bring a Bill regarding this the day after tomorrow... In Panchayat, the reservation is 37 per cent, but it can be easily 50 per cent or more..."
"BJP gave its full support to the increase the reservation limits in Bihar... The 16% reservation to the SC should be increased to 20 per cent. We requested that the 1 per cent reservation for the ST should be increased to 2 per cent. BJP has always extended support to any party when it is for reservation..."
At present, Bihar has 50 per cent reservation for OBC, EBC, SC and ST and he expressed his desire to enhance this up to 65 per cent while there would be 10 per cent reservation given to the upper castes people on the basis of their financial condition.
Elaborating the current and future reservation policies of Bihar, Nitish Kumar said, "The Scheduled Caste people are availing 16 per cent reservation at present and as their population has increased here, it needs to enhance up to 20 per cent in Bihar. Similarly, 1 per cent reservation is given to the Scheduled Tribes and as their population has also increased, we have decided to enhance the reservation by 1 per cent more. With this, the formula of SC and ST will change to 20 and 2 per cent, respectively."
He said that the state government is giving 35 per cent reservation to women of backward caste (OBC), so it need not to enhance it. He also said that the reservation of EBC needs to be enhanced more but the percentage is not finalised yet.
He also said that the 10 per cent reservation for upper caste people on the basis of economic condition is also proposed.
With inputs from IANS
ALSO READ | Nitish Kumar's 'vulgar' remark on birth control in Assembly crosses line of dignity, BJP terms it 'B-grade'
