Pradhan urges CM to revive OBC commission

Bhubaneswar: To address the concerns of OBCs in Odisha, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday urged CM Mohan Charan Majhi to expedite the reconstitution of the Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes (OSCBC). The commission has been inactive for nearly a year, following the expiration of its members’ tenure on Jan 3, 2024.Highlighting the urgency of the matter, Pradhan emphasized that Odisha is home to 216 socially and educationally backward classes (SEBC) communities, which form a substantial portion of the state’s population. These communities continue to face significant challenges in accessing equitable opportunities in education, employment and welfare schemes. “In the absence of a functioning commission, these communities are deprived of a statutory platform to voice their concerns and seek redressal for their legitimate issues,” Pradhan stated in his letter to CM Majhi. He underscored the pivotal role of the OSCBC in examining requests for inclusion in the SEBC list, addressing grievances and advising the govt on policy matters.The Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes (Amendment) Act, 2020, further empowers the commission to conduct surveys on the social and educational conditions of backward class communities, as determined by state govt. “I request your personal intervention to ensure the early reconstitution of the commission, which is crucial for the welfare and development of these communities,” Pradhan said.“The call for action comes at a critical time, as the state seeks to address the longstanding issues faced by its backward classes and ensure their rightful place in the socio-economic fabric of Odisha,” an official of the STSC development department said.The commission has a chairperson, a social scientist, two persons from backward classes who have special knowledge in matters relating to backward classes and a member secretary. Each of the members holds office for a tenure of three years from the date he or she assumes office.The commission examines the inclusion of any class of citizens as a backward class in list. It hears complaints of over-inclusion or under-inclusion of any backward class in such lists and tender advice to the state govt as it deems appropriate.