The backward classes (BCs) of Odisha have been facing serious political negligence for a long time since Independence. The first Backward Classes Commission was constituted in 1953 and the Centre asked the States to prepare their own list in 1961. While others acted swiftly, the Government of Odisha finally made a list in 1994 on the basis of a report by Justice NC Das Commission. After the Supreme Court judgment in reference to Mandal Commission recommendations while a number of southern and northern States made a good beginning on the matter of reservation and development of backward classes, even many of States had reservation for backward classes before independence, Odisha was a late riser.
Finally after sixty years of constitutional governance, The Odisha Reservation of Posts and Services (for socially and educationally backward classes) Act 2008 received the assent of the Governor on February 3, 2009 with provision of 27 per cent reservation, covering 210 communities. Though the law is meant for almost 50 percent of the population of Odisha, but it has not been properly executed in the State. Besides, there are a host of Central development schemes available for education and economic improvement of the BCs but hardly are they effectively implemented by the Odisha Government.
Though there are no legal restrictions or need of Central Government permission in implementing such schemes but unfortunately, where as other States have implemented the schemes by getting continuous Central assistance, the Government of Odisha has substantially done nothing in this regard.
The non-performing status of Odisha’s BCs' welfare activities is clearly reflected in the annual reports of the concerned ministries and related institutions. Take for example the status of the Odisha Backward Classes Finance Development Cooperative Corporation Limited established in the year 1994-95 under Odisha Cooperative Societies Act 1962.
This is the State channeling agency of the National Backward Class Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) established in 1992 with an authorized share capital of Rs 1,500 crore as a nonprofit making company.The NBCFDC aims for economic development of OBCs by promoting education through educational loan with lower interest rate to students studying in India and abroad.
The NBFDC has been implementing several schemes for generating employment and income in different sectors such agriculture, transport, trade and business and service sector through loan and micro finance to individual beneficiaries and also in groups to women. It has developed Venture Capital to promote OBCs' participation in business involving banks and other financial institutions. It also has been mobilizing resources from CSR fund of corporates to finance such schemes. Last year the State Government report says they had not implemented any scheme because of lack of Central assistance.
But the NBFDC says in its report that the Government of Odisha has not submitted its annual action plan to channel funds. It is reported that only 330 youths from 16 districts had been provided skill development training at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore.
The Government of India meets 90 per cent of the expenditure of training on skill development. The question is when many other States have done an exemplary work for income generation among OBC youths with mixing of Central assistance and own share, why Odisha is lagging behind? The other complaint is there is lack of civil society involvement in OBC development activities as the ministry grant list has very insignificant presence of Odisha’s civil society.
The NBFDC focuses on 115 backward districts of the country based on poverty rank where eight districts of Odisha such as Balangir, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Kalahandi, Kondhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada have been identified in the category. But no such special majors have been initiated in these districts.
Ideally, the State of Odisha should receive more funds because of its backwardness and presence of a sizeable OBC population, but it seems cooperative federalism does not work here. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment sponsors pre-matric and post-matric scholarship, construction of hostels for OBC boys and girls, 1,000 national fellowship for pursuing quality higher education, MPhil and PHD, and Dr Ambedkar interest subsidy on educational loans for overseas studies, besides skill development training for promotion of education among backward classes.
It has approved for construction of 100 of 100-seated hostel for backward classes students at the cost of Rs 3 lakh per seat but the progress has been very slow to realize the target so far as Odisha is concerned.
It is told that a major cause of indifference to taking up welfare activities may be because of the inclusion of relatively more forward castes in SCBC list having land ownership and access to education and finance.The reality is still a vast section of most backward classes of the State are small farmers, sharecroppers, artisans, weavers, milk farmers, cattle rearers, small food venders, carpenters, blacksmiths, potters, barbers, small traders, and many other small communities who are in dire need of Government support for their economic development along with reservation.
The ST and SC Development, Minority and Backward Classes Welfare Department is administering welfare work of BCs but there are no dedicated political leaders from among the backward community to lead from the front.
There must be an independent backward class department of the State headed by a Cabinet Minister to serve the BCs people exclusively. The Government of Odisha should send its officials and people's representatives from backward classes as exposure trip to southern States to learn how they have most successfully implemented several schemes for the BCs.
(manasbbsr15@gmail.com)
