Date:23/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/23/stories/2007112362081300.htm

National

PMK seeks adequate representation for OBCs in government jobs

J. Venkatesan

It is highly intriguing how this injustice has happened: Ramadoss

— Photo: V. Sudershan

SHARING A POINT: PMK founder president S. Ramadoss (second from right), with Sitaram Yechury, CPI (M), D. Raja (CPI) and S. Thangkabalu (Congress), at a protest rally at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Thursday.

New Delhi: The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) held a rally near Jantar Mantar here on Thursday to protest against continued injustice meted out to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in providing adequate representation in government employment.

PMK founder S. Ramadoss led the demonstration.

MPs and leaders of various parties, including Sitaram Yechury of the CPI (M), D. Raja (CPI), S. Thangkabalu (Congress), Sharad Yadav (JD (U)) and social activist Swami Vignesh participated and expressed solidarity with the PMK for its struggle to ensure social justice to oppressed classes.

Speaking at the end of the rally on Parliament Street, Dr. Ramadoss said Central Government jobs should be distributed to various social groups in proportion to their population. Though the share of the OBC population in the country was over 52 per cent, its share in government employment was only 5.3 per cent.

“It is highly intriguing how this injustice has happened, especially after the spread of education to OBCs and consequent enhancement in the competence of OBC candidates.”

He urged the Centre to release a White Paper on the status of employment of OBCs during the pre and post-reservation period outlining the causes for the decline in their share of employment. He asked the Centre to take steps with the Supreme Court to implement the 27 per cent OBC quota in educational institutions.

Dr. Ramadoss said the Centre should immediately fill backlog vacancies of OBCs through special recruitment drives and constitute a standing committee for the welfare of OBCs on the lines of the panel for SC/STs.

Mr. Yechury said OBC quota was a constitutional right and not charity.

Social justice could not be ensured without providing equal opportunity to oppressed classes.

Mr. Raja said the CPI supported the PMK demand for full implementation of the 27 per cent OBC quota in government employment. He regretted that the judiciary was acting as a stumbling block in effectively implementing the OBC quota law.