Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government proposed Monday an ordinance for the amendment to the Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes (OSCBC) Act, 1993 for inclusion of 22 castes/communities, which have been classified as OBCs by the Centre.
Currently, all the 22 castes/communities have been categorised as OBCs in Odisha by the Centre, but have not been inducted in the list of SEBCs of the state, informed an official.
Considering the social and educational backwardness of mentioned castes/communities, their inclusion to the list of SEBCs of Odisha becomes necessary for providing them benefits of government’s social welfare programmes, the official added.
Article 15(4) of the Constitution of India enables the state to make any special provisions for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens. Further, Article 46 of the Constitution provides that the state shall promote, with special care, the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.