The 10 per cent quota was announced on Friday after the meeting of the state BJP's core group, which was attended by party president Amit Shah. (PTI file photo)
Gujarat government today issued the ordinance providing 10 per cent reservation for the economically backward among upper castes, two days after it announced the politically-sensitive measure.
The Gujarat Unreserved Economically Weaker Sections (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions in the State and of Appointments and Posts in Services under the State) Ordinance, 2016, issued on the occasion of state Foundation Day, grants 10 per cent reservation to economically weaker people from unreserved category whose annual family income does not exceed Rs 6 lakh.
The ordinance clarified that reservation to the economically weaker sections (EWS) was apart from the policy for reservation for SC, ST and SEBC which was being followed by the state government.
"Economically weaker section of unreserved categories of the society have expressed their inability to compete with the higher strata who are economically sound and as a result of which, such EWS feel disadvantaged in terms of their representation in the matter of admissions in educational institutions and in the services and posts under the state," the ordinance stated.
"It is considered necessary to provide for 10 per cent reservation on the basis of economic status to economically weaker sections of the society other than the SC, ST and SEBC for admissions in the educational institutions and for appointments in the services and posts under the state," it stated.
According to the order, "Such reservation shall be available to the persons of EWS of the society as per the criteria as are applicable to the persons belonging to the socially and educationally backward classes in the state".
The government stated that such reservation shall not be applied in the matters of promotion, or for the post which is single in any cadre or grade.
Stating that the reservation for EWS is apart from the policy for reservation for SC, ST and SEBC, the ordinance said, "The state government is aware of this situation and considers it prime duty to strive for inclusive development and address the reasonable requirement of such EWS of unreserved categories of the society, so that they may also share the fruits of the policies of the government".
The 10 per cent quota was announced on Friday after the meeting of the state BJP's core group, which was attended by party president Amit Shah.
The announcement came against the backdrop of reverses suffered by the BJP in the civic polls and the aggressive Patidar agitation, ahead of Assembly elections slated in 2017.