There is good news for the Other Backward Class (OBC) residents of Delhi. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government led by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has decided to do away with a rule that has so far come in the way of many OBCs from other states living in Delhi obtaining OBC certificates. Only those who have OBC certificates are eligible for reservation in Delhi government jobs. The rule stipulates that only OBCs who have been living in Delhi since 1993 or earlier will be entitled to OBC certificates.
FORWARD Press has been publishing a series of reports highlighting the problems faced by OBC residents of Delhi for obtaining caste certificates. In a conversation with FORWARD Press, Justice V. Eshwaraiah had also raised this issue and demanded the removal of this requirement or a more recent cut-off date. His argument is that being the capital of India, Delhi is also home to people from all over the country.
The long pending demand was discussed at a high-level meeting convened by Delhi’s Minister of Social Welfare, Rajendra Pal Gautam, on 28 September 2018. He said that the government was in favour of abolishing this condition. He said that all OBC residents of Delhi should be issued a certificate irrespective of when they settled in Delhi.
Since the issue also concerns the Union government, Rajendra Pal Gautam directed the officers to coordinate with the Union government to hammer out a solution to the problem and do away with the 1993 cut-off date. He also noted that the case is pending before the Delhi High Court and promised Delhi government’s support to OBCs who raise this demand through various organizations and on appropriate platforms.
The decision of the Delhi Government will have a long-term impact. It will help those people who came to Delhi in search of livelihood and then stayed on. All those applying for OBC certificates until now have had to prove that they have been living in Delhi since 1993.
Translation: Amrish Herdenia; copy-editing: Lokesh Kumar/Anil
Forward Press also publishes books on Bahujan issues. Forward Press Books sheds light on the widespread problems as well as the finer aspects of Bahujan (Dalit, OBC, Adivasi, Nomadic, Pasmanda) society, culture, literature and politics. Contact us for a list of FP Books’ titles and to order. Mobile: +917827427311, Email: info@forwardmagazine.in)
The titles from Forward Press Books are also available on Kindle and these e-books cost less than their print versions. Browse and buy:
The Case for Bahujan Literature
Dalit Panthers: An Authoritative History
