Lagatar24 Desk
Bhubaneswar, Jan 22: The Odisha cabinet has approved the inclusion of 22 castes in the list of Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC) on Saturday.
“The Cabinet has approved the proposed Amendment of the Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes (OSCBC) Act, 1993 by inserting subsection 3 under Section – 9, allowing the State Government to include such Backward Classes in the State list of SEBCs if the Backward Classes have been specified in the central list of OBCs for the State of Odisha,” said the Odisha government in a statement.
It further said that Article 15(4) of the Indian Constitution allows the State to make any special provisions for the advancement of any Socially and Educationally Backward Classes of citizens. Further, Article 46 of the Constitution of India states that the State shall take special care to promote the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people and shall also protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.
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“There are currently 22 nos of castes/communities with their synonyms, which are already notified by the Govt. of India as OBCs for the State of Odisha, through various notifications from time to time with regard to their social and educational backwardness, but is not yet included in the list of SEBCs of our State,” it said further.
“In view of the social and educational backwardness of these 22 nos of castes/communities and their synonyms, they are required to be included in the list of SEBCs for the State of Odisha for extending all social welfare measures and benefits leading to their inclusive growth, to bring them into the mainstream of development,” it added.
Moreover, the meeting was chaired by state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik when the cabinet decided to approve the inclusion of 22 castes and communities in the state list of SEBC.
