Haryana paves way for quota to SCs in promotion

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 30

Ahead of the completion of 100 days in office on February 2, the Khattar government today unveiled a bonanza for Scheduled Caste(SC) employees, special backward classes and economically backward persons in the general category.

While the Haryana Cabinet today accepted the report submitted by a committee constituted to assess the backwardness and inadequacy of representation of SCs in promotion in government service paving the way for their reservation in promotions, the age limit for special backward classes and economically backward classes for entry into government service was raised by five years. The new age limit for them will be 47 years now.
“The committee, headed by Additional Chief Secretary P. Raghavendra Rao concluded that there was inadequate representation of SCs as compared to their proportional representation in the total population of the state at almost all levels in various departments and public sector undertakings,” Finance Minister Abhimanyu, who briefed the media on behalf of the Chief Minister, contended. Capt Abhimanyu said the committee submitted its report based on analysis of data of 3,81,847 employees of all categories in group A, B, C and D. As per the data, on account of a higher percentage amongst the poor, a lower level of literacy, higher drop-out rates and a meager share in land holdings, the SCs continued to be backward . “The committee was on the opinion that the administrative efficiency is not expected to be adversely affected by extending reservation in promotion to the SCs in public services,” the minister claimed.
Meanwhile, the special backward classes, which will benefit from five-year age relaxation for entry into service included Jats, the Bishnois, Rors, Tyagis and Jat Sikhs. Similarly, the economically weaker sections among the general category with an annual family income of Rs 2.5 lakh will also enjoy this privilege.