NEW DELHI: The poor among upper castes may get parity with backward castes in terms of government support in education, but not job reservation. A Planning Commission panel has suggested that economically backward classes (EBCs) should receive support for their children in the shape of stipends from school to higher education, including hostel facilities and overseas scholarships.
The planners have also suggested concessional loans for EBCs for economic activities, a charter which borrows from the affirmative action available for Mandal classes. However, the vital difference from Mandalite assistance for OBCs is that EBCs would not get reservation in jobs or education.
A commission, headed by S R Sinho, asked to explore economic backwardness and government support policy, has recommended that non-income tax payees among upper castes be treated as poor. The report has skirted the issue of quota and suggested that a suitable body should take a view on the contentious issue. The report is still under the consideration of Union social justice ministry.
If the Centre accepts the suggestions of the planning commission's working group on "empowerment of OBCs, EBCs and notified tribes", this would be the first instance of any affirmative action for the poor among the upper castes. At present, affirmative action is limited to SCs, STs and OBCs. Religious minorities were also brought under the ambit of affirmative action by UPA-1. The proposed move would be politically significant as it would be seen as government's attempt to assuage growing resentment among upper castes that their poor was being ignored, a charge often made by them in reference to the quota reserved for SCs/STs and OBCs. While social scientists find the anger misplaced, as it ignores the stigma of untouchability or the social handicap suffered by backward classes, it has found vocal expression in recent times. The unrest over UPA-1's policy for OBC reservation in central educational institutions forced even the champions of backward classes to tone down its implementation.
Now, the fate of 'backwards among forwards' would depend on the ongoing caste census which will compute the number of upper castes and their socio-economic status, providing a fair estimate of what should be the bar for "economic backwardness".
The working group has estimated that EBCs constitute about 17% of the total population, roughly one-third of the OBC numbers as per the Mandal commission. The 17% figure was arrived at by defining poverty as per the landholding pattern of 59th round of NSSO survey - 5.8% of forward caste households have no land holding and 65.4% own up to one hectare land.
The planners have also suggested concessional loans for EBCs for economic activities, a charter which borrows from the affirmative action available for Mandal classes. However, the vital difference from Mandalite assistance for OBCs is that EBCs would not get reservation in jobs or education.
A commission, headed by S R Sinho, asked to explore economic backwardness and government support policy, has recommended that non-income tax payees among upper castes be treated as poor. The report has skirted the issue of quota and suggested that a suitable body should take a view on the contentious issue. The report is still under the consideration of Union social justice ministry.
If the Centre accepts the suggestions of the planning commission's working group on "empowerment of OBCs, EBCs and notified tribes", this would be the first instance of any affirmative action for the poor among the upper castes. At present, affirmative action is limited to SCs, STs and OBCs. Religious minorities were also brought under the ambit of affirmative action by UPA-1. The proposed move would be politically significant as it would be seen as government's attempt to assuage growing resentment among upper castes that their poor was being ignored, a charge often made by them in reference to the quota reserved for SCs/STs and OBCs. While social scientists find the anger misplaced, as it ignores the stigma of untouchability or the social handicap suffered by backward classes, it has found vocal expression in recent times. The unrest over UPA-1's policy for OBC reservation in central educational institutions forced even the champions of backward classes to tone down its implementation.
Now, the fate of 'backwards among forwards' would depend on the ongoing caste census which will compute the number of upper castes and their socio-economic status, providing a fair estimate of what should be the bar for "economic backwardness".
The working group has estimated that EBCs constitute about 17% of the total population, roughly one-third of the OBC numbers as per the Mandal commission. The 17% figure was arrived at by defining poverty as per the landholding pattern of 59th round of NSSO survey - 5.8% of forward caste households have no land holding and 65.4% own up to one hectare land.
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