Kerala sop for forward class, gives education quota to poor

The NSS has been fighting for job reservation in government service for the financially weak in the forward communities. The NSS has been of the opinion that the decades-old job reservation for the backward communities has outlived its purpose as OBC communities have ensured enough representation in government service.

NSS general secretary P K Narayana Panicker said his outfit welcomed the government decision. “The NSS has been demanding job reservation for the economically backward of the forward communities. While fixing the criteria for reservation in jobs and educational institutions, the creamy layer in the backward communities should be entirely kept away from the purview of reservation,” he said.

SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan was critical about the move since his organisation represents the OBC Hindus in Kerala. “It has to be seen how the government would implement the reservation, without exceeding the total reservation limit of 50 per cent.”

In Kerala Government colleges, only SC/ST combine gets a reservation (20 per cent). Whereas in a government-aided private colleges, the general merit seats form 50 per cent of the total seats. Of the rest, 20 would go to SC/ST, another 20 as management quota and the rest 10 for the community, running the college.