Date:02/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/02/stories/2008070260621700.htm

National

Raise creamy layer ceiling, says BC panel

Aarti Dhar

NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has recommended that the income ceiling for the creamy layer among the Other Backward Classes be increased to Rs. 4.5 lakh from Rs. 2.5 lakh a year for employment and admissions to higher education institutions.

If accepted by the government, the recommendation will mean excluding a larger number of people from the ‘socially advanced classes (creamy layer)’ among the OBCs. This, in turn, will benefit more people in the 27 per cent reservation category in getting posts and joining services in the government and in admissions to higher education institutions under the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006.

Report submitted

The Commission report was submitted to Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar here on Tuesday. While officially it was said the Commission had “enhanced the income limit to a reasonable level,” unofficially the figure quoted was Rs. 4.5 lakh.

The Minister said a decision on the recommendations would be taken at the earliest and placed before the Cabinet. The Human Resource Development Ministry would also be informed accordingly to enable it to take steps in respect of reservation for the OBCs in admission to higher education institutions.