National BC panel raises concern over PMS scam

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 28

The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) on Tuesday raised concerns over non-implementation of Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota in Haryana and Punjab states.

Addressing mediapersons here, NCBC chairman Bhagwan Lal Sahni said the officials who were supposed to implement the OBC quota did not know the creamy layer limits properly. The commission has given 15 days to both the states to submit their plan of implementing OBC welfare policies. On post-matric scholarship (PMS) scam, said NCBC member and former MP Sudha Yadav, “For the past two years, no scholarships have been given.”

The NCBC panel that was in Chandigarh for talks with officials of Punjab and Haryana over various schemes related to backward classes has accepted demands of various organisations working for backward classes.

In reply to a question, Yadav said, “The 27 % OBC quota has not been fully implemented in both the states. There is 17% reservation for OBCs in Haryana for Class 1 and Class 2 jobs and 27 % in Class 3 and 4. While in Punjab it is only 10%. We have also raised the issue that there is no reservation for OBCs in college hostels in both these states,” she said.

As no caste census will be held this time. In reply to a question, Sahni said, “A number of states are raising their demand for a caste census. We are deliberating upon it and are yet to raise the issue with the Central Government.”