UP Govt plans SC status to 17 OBC castes

Uttar Pradesh (UP) Government is planning to include 17 Other Backward Class (OBC) Castes Kahar, Kashyap, Kewat, Nishad, Bind, Bhar, Prajapati, Rajbhar, Batham, Gaur, Tura, Majhi, Mallah, Kumhar, Dheemar and Machua into the Scheduled Castes(SC) category. A high-level committee headed by UP chief secretary Jawed Usmani has sought details from the department of social welfare before issuing a notification in this regard. The circular from the UP chief secretary on March 28, too, speaks of the government’s priorities including the inclusion of 17 OBC sub-castes within the SC category. It was mentioned in SP’s promise during assembly elections. During his election campaign, Akhilesh Yadav had held a series of meeting with MBC leaders assuring them of their due share in politics if SP was voted to power. The support of MBCs likes Kewat and Nishad is crucial for SP in some areas of Kanpur Dehat, Auraiya, Etawah, Etah, Firozabad, Farrukhabad and parts of east UP.  As on now in Uttar Pradesh OBCs have 27% reservation, the SC/ST
category has 22.5%.