Rajasthan Bill for weaker section quota soon

The Government of Rajasthan on Thursday decided to convene a session of the state legislature to pass a Bill to provide 14 per cent reservation to the economically backward among the upper castes.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had on Wednesday announced job and education quota benefits for the economically backward category (EBC).

“Rajasthan has become the first state in the country to announce reservation to EBC,” state Law Minister Ghanshyam Tiwari said.

According to a decision taken by the cabinet today, the government proposes to bring a bill on reservation for the new category in the state assembly soon, reports IANS.

“We are working out the parameters of economic backwardness,” Tiwari said adding that the state government has sought legal opinion on the issue. Different caste organisations have also been invited to submit their representations on the matter, he said.

He clarified that this reservation would only be available to those who are not entitled to any reservation in any category at present.

The Government of Rajasthan had on Wednesday offered a five per cent special reservation to the Gujjar, Banjara, Gadia Lohar and Raika communities, bringing an end to a nearly month-old stand-off over the Gujjar community’s demand for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes category.

While announcing the special reservation, the government has not tampered with the existing Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes or Other Backward Classes (OBC) list.

So far, Rajasthan has had total quotas of 49 per cent—16 per cent for the Scheduled Castes, 12 per cent for the Scheduled Tribes and 21 per cent for OBCs.

The newly announced quotas of five per cent and 14 per cent exclude the existing reservation, taking the reservation tally in Rajasthan to 68 per cent which is highest amongst any state in the country.