Include 40 castes of OBCs from Telangana in central list: TBCC chairman Niranajan to Centre

Hyderabad: Telangana State Backward Classes Commission (TSBCC) chairman G Niranajan has appealed to the union government to include 40 castes of Other Backward Classes from the state in the central OBC list

He said this is the long-standing demand of Telangana, which dates back to the formation of Telangana in 2016.

"The aim is to ensure that these communities receive their rightful share of opportunities in central government jobs, educational institutions of the central government, and other benefits in the central government schemes," said G Niranajan.

Central OBC list and Telangana disparity

The concept of the Central OBC list is crucial for implementing reservations in central government jobs and educational institutions.

The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) is the constitutional body responsible for examining requests for inclusion in, and exclusion from, this list and tendering advice to the Central Government.

The criteria for inclusion generally involve social, educational, and economic backwardness, along with inadequate representation in central government services, explained Niranajan.

Upon Telangana's formation in 2014, the Central OBC list for the new state was announced in 2016.

However, a significant discrepancy emerged:

Telangana state list comprises 112 castes, but the central government list recognizes only 90.

This gap led to several communities not being recognized in the backward class category at the central level, excluding them from the benefits.

Adding to this disparity, the Telangana government subsequently included "orphans" and 17 additional castes in its state BC list, bringing the total to 130. This further widened the gap with the Central list, leaving 40 castes in Telangana without Central OBC status.

Continuous follow-up with the center, but no result

Since 2016, the Telangana government has consistently raised this issue with the Central government.

From 2016 to 2020, the then BC Welfare Principal Secretary wrote numerous letters highlighting the predicament of these 40 excluded castes.

The matter even progressed to formal hearings under the auspices of the National BC Commission. A hearing was held in Delhi in December 2021, followed by another on September 5, 2023, presided over by National BC Commission Chairman Hansraj Gangaram Ahir.

Despite these persistent efforts and hearings by the constitutional body, the Central Government has yet to announce its decision regarding the inclusion of these 40 castes. This delay has had a tangible impact, with individuals from these communities reportedly losing out on crucial opportunities in central government educational institutions and the employment sector, where OBC reservations are applicable.