Date:13/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/13/stories/2008101354370300.htm

Other States - Orissa

SP demands 27 p.c. quota for OBCs

Staff Reporter

Special session of Assembly sought

The party to intensify campaign for implementation of quota
It demands setting up of model residential schools

BHUBANESWAR: Activists of Samajwadi Party on Sunday demanded 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes in employment and education in the State.

“Orissa government had taken five years for implementation of 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in employment in 1994. The same was struck down by a decision of the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) last year.

The reservation of OBCs has now been reduced to 11.25 per cent,” party’s national general secretary Arabinda Dhali said.

He said when the Central government went for providing reservation to OBC students in IITs and IIMs, the State government was yet to take a decision to provide such reservation in admissions into educational institutes.

Memo submitted

The SP activists submitted a memorandum to Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhanadre demanding convening of a special session of the State Assembly so that a decision on implementation of 27 per cent reservation for OBCs and 38 per cent reservation for SCs and STs in the field of employment and admissions could be discussed.

To mark the death anniversary of Ram Manohar Lohia as Social Justice Day, the party decided to intensify its campaign for implementation of the reservation.

The SP also demanded for establishment of model residential schools in every district for OBC students and vocational institutes for skill development.