The Hindu : National : Paswan for quota for economically backward

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Monday, Jun 05, 2006

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Paswan for quota for economically backward

"Unless seats are ensured, how can Backward Classes get jobs?"

If needed, we have to amend Constitution Anti-quota protests will die down

Shillong: Defending reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Union Minister and Lok Jan Shakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan on Sunday demanded another 10 per cent quota in higher education for the economically backward.

"From 1989, during the time of the Mandal Commission, my stand has been to reserve 10 per cent for the economically backward, in addition to the 49 per cent for the Backward Classes (27 per cent) and the SCs and the STs (22 per cent)," he told reporters here.

69 per cent reservation

Tamil Nadu had 69 per cent reservation, and in some places seats were set apart for ex-servicemen and the physically handicapped, thus taking the quota beyond 49 per cent.

The 93rd Constitution Amendment was made with all parties voting unanimously to reserve seats for the OBCs in institutions of higher education. Earlier, only jobs were reserved.

"Unless seats are ensured for the Backward Class people in studies, how can they get jobs?"

It was the Government's duty to implement it. — PTI

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