Addressing reporters, Sahoo said while the Commission had received as many as 718 applications, 350 applications had already been cleared and others were under scrutiny. Sahoo pointed out that while many thought that those from economically backward classes could be included in the backward classes, only those who were socially backward and lacking in education could apply, he clarified. He said of the 62 per cent people in the state who were under the backward classes, 25 per cent consisted the scheduled tribe, 27 per cent of other backward classes and six and four per cent were from the scheduled tribe and physically handicapped category respectively.