History of OBC Reservation

Under Article 340 of the Indian constitution it is obligatory for the government to promote the welfare of the Other Backward Classes.

The first Backward Classes Commission headed by Shri kaka kalelkar in 1953, and Mandal Commission headed by Shri B.P.Mandal in 1980 has given many useful recommendations for the welfare of Other Backward Classes. The population of OBC’s which includes Hindus and Non-Hindus was around 52% of the total population according to the commission.

27% of reservation was recommended owing to legal constraints that the total quantum of reservation should not exceed 50%.

One of the most important recommendations is that all private sector undertakings which have received financial assistance from the government in one form or another should be obliged to recruit personnel on the reservation basis. But, even after 2 decades we are unable to get it inspite of our continuous efforts.

On August 7 1990, the then Prime Minister Shri. V P Singh announced that his National Front Government was going to implement Mandal Commission recommendations in Education and jobs, inspite of strong agitations from Forward Communities. In fact, Shri V P Singh lost his power due to his mandalisation policy. The federation remembers him on this special day for his service rendered to this community.

One needs to understand the psychology of opposition of reservation to OBC’s.

When the jobs are nowhere and everything is gone private, then why are the upper castes angry with the reservation for Backward Communities?

The fact is that seats for dalits were rarely fulfilled and we have seen huge backlog. There has been no protest. It was easier to curtail the protest of the dalits because of their numbers and social background.

Now the reservation for backward communities being a reality, the powerful backward communities will hit and break the bone of upper castes. That is the fear of this community. They know that there are enough students from these communities who will join great institutes of technology and management.

The Supreme Court of India on April 10 2008 upheld the government’s move for initiating 27% OBC quotas in Govt. funded Institutions. But it is necessary for the Govt. at this juncture to exclude the creamy layer policy from the reservation quota.

To be strong in the present scenario, it is more important to show our strength and unity of OBC’s. AIOBC association work towards social justice. AIOBC is giving hand and helping us in this regard.

The issue of under-representation of the socio-economically deprived, discriminated backward caste and classes in the spheres of education, employment, administration and commerce is burning at this stage. I appeal all the member associations to work hard towards the success of the reservation policies.

Let us truly reform our society and work for a truly democratic India, where every community participates in power and every person gets their reservation in respective areas in proportion to their shares in population.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Bengal to provide OBC reservation in panchayats

West Bengal Government will soon provide reservation to the people under OBC category in panchayat administration and asked the Centre to initiate steps for similar reservation in other states.


In a written statement in the state Assembly today, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister, Anisur Rahaman informed that the state government would soon amend the West Bengal Panchayat Act to grant reservation to OBC people.

He said identification of a section of OBC people in the state had already been done. The process of further identification was on by the OBC Commission and more people would be included in the list before its final announcement.


Inclusion of the OBCs in the three-tier panchayati administration was essential for the development of these people and their areas, he said.

Apart from the members of three-tier panchayati raj system, the state government would also seek reservation of OBCs for the post of chairperson in panchayat bodies.

The number of posts to be reserved for OBCs would be finalised on the basis of OBC population in the area, he said.

Welcoming Rahaman's announcement, CLP leader Manas Bhuniya told reporters outside the House that the Congress was in favour of this decision
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