Odisha cabinet headed by the state’s Chief minister (CM) Naveen Patnaik has cleared the inclusion of 22 castes/ communities in the state list of Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC).
- Objective: To extend all social welfare measures and benefits to SEBCs for their inclusive growth and development.
Key Points:
i.The inclusion of Backward Classes in the State list of SEBCs was made by approving the Amendment of the Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes (OSCBC) Act, 1993 by inserting subsection 3 under Section – 9.
ii.The 22 castes/communities along with their synonyms, have already been included in the central OBC list, and now they were included in the Odisha SEBC list.
iii.The 22 castes are – Badhei, Bindhani, Bindani, Baraji, Baroi, Sankhua Tanti, Gola Tanti, Lajya Nibaran, Hansi Tanti, Kapadia, Gandhamali, Thanapati, Pandara Mali, Paniar Mali, Pandaria, Oda-Khandayat, Bayalisha Oda, Oda Paika, Oda Paiko, Haladia Teli and Kalandi.
iv.Provisions under the Indian Constitution:
- Article 15(4) : It enables the State Governments to make any special provisions for the advancement of any Socially and Educationally Backward Classes of citizens.
- Article 46: It enables the State Governments to promote, with special care, the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.
Note: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai stated about the request made by Maharashtra, Odisha, Bihar, and a few organisations to the Central government for including caste details in the upcoming Census.
-Odisha Cabinet Approved 9 piped water supply projects worth over Rs 1,287 crore
i.Odisha Cabinet also approved 9 piped water supply projects worth over Rs 1,287 crore in three districts to provide safe drinking water.
- 2 projects worth Rs 254.66 crore in Jajpur.
- 3 projects with an outlay of Rs 393.93 crore in Nayagarh.
- 4 mega piped water supply projects at Rs 639.26 crore under the ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ in tribal-dominated Malkangiri.
ii.The cabinet also approved the proposal regarding grants for government-aided college employees.
iii.Approval was also made to allot two acres of land for Bagchi-Sri Shankara Cancer Care Centre and Research Institute.
Recent Related News:
The Make in Odisha Conclave 2022 (3rd edition), a biennial global investors’ meet and the flagship investor summit of the Government of Odisha, took place in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from November 30 to December 4, 2022.
About Odisha:
Governor – Ganeshi Lal
Heritage Site – Konark Sun Temple
Festival – Utkala Divas, Kalinga Mahotsav
