In a recent milestone, the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) Chairman, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, led a critical review meeting that examined the evaluation of welfare programmes typically designed to improve the representation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Under the jurisdiction of the UT Chandigarh Administration, a thorough assessment was conducted in a couple of meetings on areas, including employment and admissions within Boards, Departments, Corporations, Educational Institutions as well as Medical Institutes.
A historic 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in employment and admissions across a wide range of sectors has been proposed by Rajeev Verma. This comprehensive data was also presented to the Ministry on February 1, 2024, which was accompanied by a formal request for administrative approval on the draft policy.
Course of Events
- NCBC review meeting
- Action report on April 12 and May 27, 2023
- Establishment of committee on August 18, 2023
- Multiple committee meetings on August 21, October 9 and November 8, 2023 for final draft
- Submission of draft for administrative approval on November 22, 2023
- Ministry of Home Affairs sought clarifications on December 4, 2023
- Data submission on February 1, 2024
- Proposal for 27 per cent reservation
- Endorsement by NCBC chairman
- Submission to Ministry for Approval on the same
The administration is currently looking forward to administrative clearance of the planned 27 per cent reservation, which is a big step in the direction of encouraging diversity and OBC community empowerment at UT Chandigarh. After careful examination, the Ministry of Home Affairs will grant administrative clearance to the draft policy. In creating these policies, complete dedication to accuracy and clarity is evident through the attempts made, response to inquiries and others.
Details on Past Events/ Meetings: The past meeting was held at the NCLC in New Delhi and was attended by the home secretary and other senior officers of Chandigarh administration. During the meeting, the home secretary presented a comprehensive action taken report, summarizing the key discussions of the previous meetings held on April 12 and May 27, 2023.
To highlight the commitment towards OBC welfare, an important development took place with the setting up of a committee on August 18, 2023, under the chairmanship of the home secretary-cum-secretary social welfare. The committee was responsible for drafting and finalising the draft OBCs in Admissions Policy for all the Chandigarh administration’s Educational Institutes. Over the course of a year and a half, the committee worked on a final draft OBCs & BCs Policy with reservation in admissions. The draft was thoroughly examined by the department of technical education and the law department and was finally sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India for administrative approval on November 22, 2023.
However, the journey towards approval was encountered by a query from the Ministry of Home Affairs, seeking clarity on the scope of “Courses and Colleges under the purview of Educational/ Professional/ Technical/ Medical Institutes of UT Chandigarh” in a communication dated December 4, 2023. Addressing these queries meticulously, relevant information was sourced from the Department of Technical Education, Higher Education, School Education, and Medical Education.
The next judgement might potentially help in a new era of empowerment and equitable representation for the OBCs in UT Chandigarh, as the administration seeks administrative permission for the requested reservation. The NCBC, the Chandigarh Administration, and other stakeholders have been working together to create a more inclusive and fair society. To comprehend the impact on OBC welfare and representation in the region, it will be imperative to closely monitor any new advancements in this area.
