Rajasthan Gujjars to Get OBC Benefit from 9 December 2016, Government Backs SBCs with Other Schemes

Rajasthan Gujjars to Get OBC Benefit from 9 December 2016, Government Backs SBCs with Other Schemes
Rajasthan Gujjars to Get OBC Benefit from 9 December 2016, Government Backs SBCs with Other Schemes

This Friday came as a setback for Rajasthan Gujjars, when state government restored the OBC benefits to five special backward classes, on the direction issued by the honorable Supreme Court. The SBC category initially included Gurjars (Gujjars), Gadia-Lohars (Gadolia), Banjaras (Labana, Baldia), Gadaria (Gayari, Gaadri) and the Raikas (Debasi, Rebari). Last December, after Jodhpur high court struck down Gujjar reservations in state, Rajasthan Gurjars created ruckus in the state, demanding their ‘special’ reservation quota back. Nevertheless, the SC struck down their reservation, deeming it ‘unconstitutional’.

Disheartened by this decision, Rajasthan Gurjars were worried about government recruitments that were pending since a long time. Upon insistence, Rajasthan government did file a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court to request a stay on the High Court’s order. However, the apex court directed the government to include SBCs under OBC.

Keeping in line with the Supreme Court’s order, Gujjars and other SBCs in Rajasthan will get OBC benefits starting from 9th December, 2016—the day when the SBC quota was struck down by the judiciary. Recruitment for thousand vacancies in various government departments will be filled according to the OBC guidelines.

The root of this struggle dates back to 1994, when Gujars demanded a special category for themselves, feeling cheated and oppressed by other OBC communities. After 13 years of struggle, Raje government granted their wish and the Gujjars gained representation as ‘special backward classes’ in its previous term. Nevertheless, now that the SC has struck down Gujjar reservations, the government is seeking different measures to compensate for this loss.

Mr. Arun Rajasthan (social justice and empowerment minister Rajasthan) has assured the Gujjars that government will do everything to uplift their community members residing in remote backward regions of Rajasthan.

Consequently, the government is focusing on CM Vasundhara Raje’s Devnarayan Yojana—an umbrella scheme that ropes in perks (in the form of scholarships, financial assistance for business, hostels, schools, mobile and scooty) for SBC communities. The government is likely to include more provisions under the scheme so that Gujjars can attain social benefits without reservations.

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