Circle Officers across the State have been assigned the power to issue caste certificates. Earlier, Sub Divisional Officers (SDO) or other administrative officers were issuing the caste certificates. The decision to this affect was taken by State Cabinet on Thursday.

Giving details about the decision KK Khandelwal Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Personnel, Administrative Reforms and Raj Bhasha said, “The State Cabinet today gave its nod empowering Circle Officers (CO) to issue caste certificates. With new directives, the applicants don’t have to move to various officers such as SDO or other administrative officers for issuance of caste certificates.”

The State Cabinet also gave its nod for making changes in submission of income certificates for creamy layer candidates. Candidates coming under creamy layer can now submit the self declaration affidavit detailing about their yearly income once they submit their income certificates. Khandelwal said, “Earlier the candidates to avail the benefits of creamy layer for reservation in Government jobs and educational institutions had to submit three financial year annual income of their parents which was valid for a year. Every year, the candidate had to submit the income certificates. Now the Government has removed the barrier of submitting income certificates on yearly basis, as of now the candidates have to submit only the self declaration affidavits.”

The State Cabinet also approved guidelines for issuance of caste certificates. On the instructions and directions of head of Gram Sabha, Raiyats and other local bodies officials, administrative officers can issue caste certificates. The caste certificates have to be issued within 60 days after the recommendations of Gram Sabhas. The State Cabinet today prepared the detailed performa for issuing of caste certificates.

As per Cabinet decision, candidate or his/her parents living in State before August 10, 1950 can get the benefit of Scheduled Caste in State, similarly for Scheduled Tribes (ST) a candidate or parents living in State before September 6,1950 can avail the benefit of reservation. Similarly, for BC 1/BC 2, those candidate or parents settled in Jharkhand before November 10, 1978 can get the benefits of reservation of backward castes.  For other central OBC, the base year is September 8, 1993.

Sources said that with the State Cabinet issued new guidelines for State domicile as there have been allegations from Oppositions parties that due to unclear State domicile, government jobs are grabbed by candidates from other States especially from Bihar.

The Cabinet today also gave its nod for piped drinking water supply in SC/ST tolas across the State. Principal Secretary, Cabinet Coordination, S K G Rahate said, “The State Cabinet earmarked `510.26 crore for piped drinking water supply at 10726 tolas of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes.”  The Cabinet decision is a step towards Chief Minister Raghubar Das commitment to provide safe drinking water to all. The State Cabinet also earmarked `57.77 crore for providing safe drinking water supply at Basukinath town of Dumka district `48.74 crore has been earmarked for construction of new building of Dhanbad Municipal Corporation.

The State Cabinet today also gave approval for construction of 15 roads covering a distance of 320 km at an estimate of `1,258 crore. Some of the important roads which the Cabinet gave its approval are 54.15 km Chanho-Dighia-Purnapani-Lapung road in Ranchi district at an estimated cost of `17,853.15 lakh.

The Cabinet also gave its nod for making amendments of Jharkhand Accredited Journalist Rules, 2014. Inclusion of dozen sub caste of Bhuyia caste in SC category was also given nod. In altogether, the State Cabinet today gave its nod to 37 agendas.