Bhubaneswar, 23 December (H.S.): Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has called for the inclusion of 108 communities recognized under the State SEBC list in the Central OBC list.

In a letter addressed to Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr Virendra Kumar, Pradhan sought his personal intervention to address the long-standing disparity. He pointed out that despite being recognised by the Odisha government under the State SEBC list, these communities have not yet been included in the Central list.

The Union Minister noted that this discrepancy has deprived members of these communities of benefits related to Central government jobs, admissions to higher educational institutions, and access to various Central welfare schemes. He further highlighted that the SEBC population constitutes a significant share of Odisha’s demography, and inclusion in the Central OBC list would ensure uniform access to reservations and welfare benefits at the national level, thereby supporting their educational and economic advancement.

Pradhan also enclosed a detailed list of the 108 communities with his letter, which includes prominent groups such as Khandayat, Pradhan, Chasa Paika, Mahanti, Gauda, Bania, and Teli, among others. He urged the Social Justice Minister to take prompt and positive action to facilitate the overall development of these communities.

Notably, a day earlier, Pradhan had written to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on the same issue, seeking the immediate reconstitution of the Odisha State Backward Classes Commission (OSCBC) to further strengthen measures for the welfare of the SEBC communities.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda