Sunil Prajapati meets Secretary Social , Justice and Empowerment  Government of India and Discuss  Various Issues of OBCs of J&K UT

Sunil Prajapati, President BJP OBC Morcha, J&K UT along with Capt Romesh Lal (National Executive Member OBC Morcha) had a meeting with Secretary to the Govt of India, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and apprised him about the important issues of OBC Category, which needs to be considered by the Union Govt at the earlies to resolve the long pending demands of OBCs of J&K UT so that they do not suffer any more and get their due constitutional rights to reservation and other facilities at par with other States of the Country.

One of the issue as discussed with the Secretary MoSJE relates to the correction in the names of four castes i.e. Kumhars (Potters), Barbers, Washermen and Teli in the Centre OBC list of J&K as word “Rural Only” has been mentioned against the names of these castes, due to which the OBCs belonging to these castes and living in the Areas other than Villages are rendered ineligible for OBC Certificate for Centre Govt Jobs.  As such the OBC Certificate is being denied to the people of these OBC castes who reside other than the villages. Sunil Prajapati, had earlier approached the Social Welfare Department, J&K Govt and J&K Govt accordingly projected the case for deletion of word “Rural Only” from the names of above quoted four castes vide Letter No. SWD-BCC/25/2022-01(E-7038471) dated 19.09.2023, which is still under consideration with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.  Sunil Prajapati, accordingly requested the Secretary MoSJE, UOI for early issuance of necessary instructions in this Regards, so that the people of these castes do not suffer any more in obtaining OBC Certificates for Centre Govt Jobs. The Secretary MoSJE has been very pleased and directed the concerned Department in the Ministry for early settlement of the issue of correction in the names of these four OBC castes.

Secondly, Prajapati apprised the Secretary MoSJE regarding the issue relating to allotment of Funds for OBC Scholarship as no funds have been allotted for OBC Scholarship for the last two years. Prior to Reorganisation of the erstwhile J&K State into two UTs, the funds for Scholarship to the OBC aspirants under “Social Castes” were being provided regularly at the discretion of J&K Govt.  Union Govt may have not provided funds for OBC scholarship, as J&K Govt had not adopted OBC reservation but a Social Caste category instead of OBC Category.

However, after implementation of Re-organisation Act 2020, no funds for OBC scholarship have been allocated by the J&K UT.  As such no scholarship was provided to OBC candidates for the last three years due to which, a great resentment is seen in the OBC people in absence of the funds for Scholarship and many poor OBC aspirants are facing great difficulties in continuing their studies.  Accordingly, Sunil Prjapati requested to the Secretary MoSJE that now when parliament has approved the OBC Reservation for J&K and same has been made effective from 26 Dec 2023, necessary funds for OBC scholarship may also be provided to J&K Govt so that many poor OBC aspirant may get the relief and feel comfortable in continuing their studies on receiving the due scholarship as applicable under the Constitutional provisions.  On this the Secretary MoSJE, UOI have clarified that first J&K govt allocate 40% funds for the Scholarship and thereafter 60% funds are provided by the Centre Govt.  However, he has been very kind to issue necessary instruction in this regards to the Concerned Department in the MoSJE so that OBC students do  not suffer any more in absence of Scholarship to OBCs.

Next issue as discussed by Sunil with the Secretary MoSJE, UOI was Funds for completion of Construction work of OBC Hostel Building being constructed at kot Bhalwal Jammu, whose construction was started during 2017 but stopped during 2019 for lack of funds. Around 60% construction work of the Hostel Building has been completed and remaining construction could not be completed for lack of funds even after 5 years from commencement of the construction work, as NO funds were allocated by the J&K Govt for OBC Hostel Building after 2019.  Sunil Prajapati, accordingly requested the Secretary to release the requisite funds for OBC hostel Building may also be provided so that the remaining construction of OBC Hostel at Kot Bhalwal  Jammu is completed at the earliest and the needy aspirant Students from OBC Community would avail the Hostel Facilities.