The parliamentary standing committee on education is set to recommend a survey of Backward Castes in order to ascertain the “relative backwardness of BCs,” and subsequently ensure that the benefits of reservation go to the “genuinely deserving, who would be handicapped without it.”

This and several other suggestions of far-reaching consequences are likely to be part of the committee’s report, a draft of which was accessed by The Sunday Express, on the pending bill for reservation in Central educational institutions. The report is scheduled to be submitted to Parliament during its winter session starting November 22.

The recommended categorisation of backward castes does not amount to separating the creamy layer. “Creamy layer is not required at this point of time,” the report said. “However, the committee recommends the categorization of BCs into various categories.”

Observing that there is “major limitation on historical data about the socio-economic position of OBCs,” the committee said a “comprehensive survey of population to bring out the social, educational and economic profile of each caste/community,” is required. The report says one such survey should be done immediately and should be part of the Census.

The report says after categorising the castes, those who have benefited from the reservation should yield space for those who have not, to make reservation policy “meaningful and effective.” The committee says the National Commission For Backward Classes, the NSSO and the DG of Census operations could cooperate to do this survey.

The standing committee rejected the provision in the draft bill that allowed elite super-specialty research centres to be outside the purview of reservation. The draft bill had an annexure of such excluded institutions. Observing that the committee did not find “sufficient reasons to exclude such institutions,” it “strongly advocates reservation” in them.

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