SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission (JKSEBC) has reached out to the Government for information regarding the development of villages previously designated as backward, which were granted 20 percent reservation under the Residents of Backward Areas (RBA) category, a percentage later reduced to 10.
Chaired by Justice (Retired) GD Sharma, the commission, including senior retired bureaucrat and PSC Member Rup Lal Bharti and Retired IPS officer Munir Khan, was established in March 2020, with its term extended until September 2024.
The commission’s current focus lies on determining the inclusion and exclusion of backward areas based on specific criteria, aiming to conclude by September.
Quoting official sources Daily Excelsior reported hat the JKSEBC has requested details from the Government on the facilities that serve as criteria for inclusion of villages under the RBA category in Jammu and Kashmir.
Parameters such as road infrastructure, proximity to educational institutions, healthcare facilities, water and Wi-Fi access, and communication modes are among those under scrutiny.
RBA, a unique reservation category exclusive to Jammu and Kashmir, has faced criticism, particularly as reservations in the region have reached 60 percent, leaving only 40 percent for open merit.
The commission plans to evaluate villages’ eligibility based on received data and may conduct on-site visits for a firsthand assessment. Also, recommendations for the inclusion of Pahari Ethnic tribe, Paddari tribe, Koli & Gadda Brahmins in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category have been made.
Previously, RBA held 20 percent reservation, later reduced to 10 percent amidst concerns over influential individuals exploiting the system for personal gain.
With reservation percentages fluctuating in various categories, the commission aims to ensure equitable representation while considering requests for inclusion in the RBA category.
