Kolkata:
With the state elections slated for 2011, the West Bengal Government on Friday announced
enhancement of reservation for other backward classes (OBC) by 10 per cent, raising the quota to 17 per cent in the state.
"We have taken this decision from the viewpoint of our social obligations and not with an eye on the coming elections," Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said when asked if the decision was guided by any political purpose.
Necessary law in this regard has been amended and the decision would be implemented with immediate effect, he said.
"During all these years, we have identified the new 10 per cent OBCs and completed the process of officially recognising them," the Chief Minister added.
"From Monday, certificates will be distributed among the new OBCs," he added.
The Chief Minister said certificates would be distributed from camps in various blocks of the state on October 8 and 11.
"We have been able to do a significant job in the parliamentary democracy and our decision is guided from the viewpoint of social obligations," he said while seeking support to the effort from all quarters.
However, mere reservation would not help solve the backwardness of OBCs. "We want equal opportunities of the OBC people. Muslims and others too should get equal opportunity."
The state Public Service Commission and School Service Commission had already been asked to implement the enhanced reservation, Bhattacharjee said.
"I have talked to the higher education minister," he said, adding that it was to be ensured that employment opportunities were provided to the OBCs.
State Backward Class Development Minister Jogesh Chandra Burman said there are 108 OBC categories in the state.
Of them, 53 belong to backward Muslim, one each in Christian and Jain communities, nine in Buddhist, of which some belong to Hindu communities too.