Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan has written to Odisha Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, requesting the immediate restructuring of the Odisha State Backwards Classes Commission (OSCBC), which has remained non-functional for nearly a year.
In his letter, Shri Pradhan highlighted that the term of the OSCBC expired on January 3, 2024. Since no new chairperson or members have been appointed, the Commission is currently defunct, causing serious difficulties for people belonging to the Socially and Educationally Backwards Classes (SEBC) in the state.
The Union Minister noted that around 216 SEBC communities form a significant portion of Odisha’s population and are spread across the state. Due to the absence of a functional Commission, members of these communities are facing hurdles in accessing benefits related to education, employment, and welfare schemes. He also pointed out that they are being deprived of a constitutional forum to raise grievances and seek redressal.
Shri Pradhan emphasised that the OSCBC plays a crucial role in recommending the inclusion of new castes in the SEBC list, addressing complaints, and advising the government on policies concerning backward classes. Under the Odisha State Backward Classes Commission (Amendment) Act, 2020, the Commission is also entrusted with conducting surveys on the social and educational status of backward classes.
Stressing the importance of social justice, Shri Pradhan stated that the early reconstitution of the Commission is essential to fulfil the aspirations of backward classes and ensure inclusive development in Odisha. He urged the Chief Minister to personally intervene in the matter and take immediate steps to reconstitute the OSCBC in the larger interest of the state’s backward communities.
