OBCs Demand Filling up 16 Lakh Vacant Posts

HYDERABAD: The All India Federation of Other Backward Classes Employees protested at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, urging the Centre to fill 16 lakh vacant job posts and address various demands.

Addressing the gathering, former PCC president V. Hanumantha Rao stated, “We advocate a caste-wise Census of OBCs, elimination of the creamy layer, stop privatisation of public sector units, establishment of a dedicated ministry for OBCs, implement reservation in promotions, remove 50 per cent cap on reservations, and adherence to the Mandal Commission recommendations for OBC representation in the judiciary and the private sector.”

Rajya Sabha member and president of the National BC Welfare Association, R. Krishnaiah, urged both Central and state governments to ensure reservation in promotions. He highlighted the commitment to introduce a Constitutional Amendment Bill to provide reservation in promotions for BCs, asserting that there are no legal or constitutional barriers to presenting this Bill in Parliament. Krishnaiah attributed the current situation to the lack of genuine intent and the anti-BC stance of successive Central governments.

The recommendations for reservation in promotions have been outlined in the Nachiyappan Committee's report, and the recent statement by the Supreme Court regarding reservation for SC/ST/BCs in promotions underlines this need. Despite various such recommendations, the governments have not taken the issue seriously. Krishnaiah indicated that discussions are underway with all political parties regarding this matter.