BJP OBC Morcha calls on Principal Secretary Social Welfare Smt Sheetal Nanda apprised her about Grievances of the OBC’s of Jammu Kashmir UT

JAMMU, September 16: Sunil Prajapati said the J&K Govt has grant reservation under to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) “Weaker and under Privileged Classes (Social Castes)” Category to 27 OBC castes mentioned at Annexure ‘D’ to J&K Reservation Rules 2005 and two other OBC castes ie. “Sheer Gojree” included in 2012 and “Bhowarias & Yogies/Jogies” included in 2019 vide SRO No 408 dated 18 June 2019.  However, only 24 Castes have been updated for Centre OBC List as has not been updated as per State OBC List , as such people of Some castes are facing difficulties in getting Centre OBC Certificate.

In this regard it is stated that earlier all people of all the 27 OBC Caste were being issued OBC Certificate offline for Centre Govt Jobs.  However, with the start of online issuance of OBC certificate, the anomaly occurred as few Tehsildars started denying OBC Certificates to the people of four castes residing in urban areas i.e. Barbers, Kumhars, Teli and Wasermen, stating that the people of these castes residing in Rural Areas are entitled to OBC Certificate only as the condition of Rural Only has been mentioned in the Centre OBC List.

As such people of these castes residing in Urban Areas are not entitled to OBC Certificates, whereas as per J&K Reservation Rules 2005 under which OBCs are granted reservation, no such condition has been prescribed for the OBC Castes in J&K Reservation Rule 2005 as well as in the list of OBCs castes as per Mandal Commission Report .  Further as per Circular No 32/GAD of 1998 dated 12-02-1998 , the World Rural has been removed from the SRO 126 of 1994.  However, the same has still not been updated in the Centre List as uploaded on NCBC website. As such these people residing in areas other than Rural are suffering badly.

Therefore it is requested that the issue may kindly be examined appropriately and Word rural may be removed from the Centre OBC List, so that people of four castes are not made to suffer any more.  Further only 25 castes have been updated in the Centre OBC List.  The remaining two castes as Bowaria and Jogies may also be added in the Centre OBC List, so that people of these castes also get the OBC Certificate.

Sunil Prajapati said earlier the funds for Scholarship to OBCs were being provided regularly.  However, funds for scholarship for OBC category are not being allotted by J&K Govt for the last three years.  In the absence of the funds, no scholarship is being provided to the aspirant candidates belonging to the OBC category.  As such, many students from poor families are facing hardships and difficulties in continuing with their studies, in absence of the Scholarship, which is great injustice and discrimination with OBCs in J&K.

Therefore, it is requested that necessary action may kindly be initiated by the concerned Department at appropriate level so that necessary funds allotted for Scholarship to OBCs in J&K to provide relief to the students hailing from Poor families is pursuing their studies.

Sunil Prajapati also demanded  that the construction work of  OBC Hostel Building at Kot Bhalwal Jammu was started during 2016.  About 60%, construction work has been completed and the construction work was stopped during 2018 due to lack of funds as no further funds were allocated by J&K Govt for construction of Hostel Building.  As such, the further construction of the Hostel Building could not be completed even after 6 years from commencement of the construction work.

Therefore, it is requested that necessary directions may kindly be issued at appropriate level for allocation of requisite funds, so that construction of OBC Hostel Building is completed at the earliest and the needy aspirant Students from OBC Community can avail the Hostel Facilities.

Prominent among others Present are Raj kumar Tarkhan (General Secretary OBC Morcha), Suresh Salgotra (Vice President OBC Morcha), Raman Chalotra (Secretary OBC Morcha), Shamsheer Prajapati (Secretary OBC Morcha ) and Anil Balgotra (Secretary OBC Morcha).

(NOTE: PRESS RELEASE PUBLISHED AS RECEIVED)