Cabinet to fix income criteria for EWS quota

SHIMLA: The Cabinet will take a decision on fixing the eligibility criteria, including the income limit, for availing the benefit of the proposed 10 per cent quota for the economically weaker section (EWS) in the general category, which is already getting up to 15 per cent reservation in jobs in the state.

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 18

The Cabinet will take a decision on fixing the eligibility criteria, including the income limit, for availing the benefit of the proposed 10 per cent quota for the economically weaker section (EWS) in the general category, which is already getting up to 15 per cent reservation in jobs in the state.

The statistics have been collected and the issue of fixing the income limit is likely to be decided by the Cabinet at its meeting here tomorrow. Besides the SC, ST and OBC, the EWS of the general category is being given reservation in jobs in Class II and IV.

Only the Centre and Gujarat have implemented it but with the criteria still not being fixed by both, the Department of Personnel is struggling to frame the guidelines.

The income limit for the BPL category is about Rs 35,000 per annum, besides several other criteria such as pucca house, car and land ownership. Though the Cabinet will take a final call, it could be fixed below Rs 5 lakh even though the Centre has fixed it up to Rs 8 lakh.

While the EWS of the general category is getting 8 per cent reservation, the SC, ST and OBC people living in BPL category are getting 7 per cent reservation.

“The larger question is whether the additional 10 per cent reservation will be over and above the existing reservation being given to the EWS and IRDP or the two will merge,” said an official.

The population of Himachal had been increasing continuously over the years but the growth rate has started exhibiting a decreasing trend over the last three decades. In 2011, the total population of Himachal Pradesh was 68,64,602. The composition of population shows that 90 per cent of the total population is rural and only 10 per cent is urban. The trend shows that urban population has been increasing continuously since 1981. It has been increased from 7.61 per cent in 1981 to 8.69 per cent in 1991, 9.80 per cent in 2001 and 10.00 per cent in 2011.

Could be Rs 5 lakh

Though the Cabinet will take a final call, it could be fixed below Rs 5 lakh
While the EWS of the general category is getting 8 per cent reservation, the SC, ST and OBC people living in BPL category are getting 7 per cent reservation
the income limit for the BPL category is about Rs 35,000 per annum, besides several other criteria such as pucca house, car and land ownership.