OBC Morcha delegation calls on Sheetal Nanda

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 26: BJP OBC Morcha delegation called on Principal Secretary, Social Welfare, Sheetal Nanda and apprised her about grievances of the OBCs of Jammu Kashmir UT. The delegation was led by Sunil Prajapati Morcha president.
Sunil Prajapati said that earlier all people of all the 27 OBC caste were being issued OBC Certificate offline for Central Government jobs. However, with the start of online issuance of OBC certificate, the anomaly occurred as some tehsildars started denying OBC certificates to the people of four castes residing in urban areas i.e. Barbers, Kumhars, Telis and Washermen, stating that the people of these castes residing in rural areas are entitled to OBC certificate only as the condition of rural has been only mentioned in the Centre OBC list.
He said as per J&K Reservation Rules 2005 under which OBCs are granted reservation, no such condition has been prescribed for the OBC castes in J&K Reservation Rule 2005 as well as in the list of OBCs castes as per Mandal Commission Report. Further as per Circular No 32/GAD of 1998 dated 12-02-1998, the word Rural has been removed from the SRO 126 of 1994. However, the same has still not been updated in the Centre List as uploaded on NCBC website. So the people residing in urban areas are suffering badly, he added.
The delegation demanded that the issue may be examined appropriately and settled once for all so that people of four castes are not made to suffer any more.
The delegations said only 25 castes have been updated in the Centre OBC List. The remaining two castes as Bowaria and Jogies may also be added in the List.
It said earlier the funds for scholarship to OBCs were being provided regularly which are not being allotted by J&K Government for the last three years. The same may be allotted without delay .
Prajapati also demanded that the construction work of OBC Hostel Building at Kot Bhalwal, Jammu was started during 2016 which has been abandoned later. He demanded allotment of funds so that the construction work is completed.
Other members of the delegation were Raj Kumar Tarkhan general secretary, OBC Morcha, Suresh Salgotra, vice president of the Morcha, Raman Chalotra, Shamsheer Prajapati and Anil Balgotra secretaries of the Morcha.