Union Education Minister Urges Odisha CM to Revive Backward Classes Commission

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has written to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, requesting intervention for the prompt reconstitution of the Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes (OSCBC). The OSCBC has been non-functional since its tenure ended on January 3, 2024, due to the absence of appointed members. This has led to a lack of a statutory mechanism to address the concerns of Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) communities in the state.
Odisha is home to 216 SEBC communities, a significant part of the state’s population. These communities encounter difficulties in accessing equal opportunities in education, employment, and welfare schemes. Without a functioning Commission, they lack a formal platform to voice grievances and seek solutions, as highlighted by the Union Minister.
The OSCBC plays a vital role in reviewing requests for the inclusion of communities in the SEBC list, handling grievances, and advising the government on policy issues. Referring to the Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes (Amendment) Act, 2020, Pradhan emphasized the importance of the Commission in conducting surveys on the social and educational conditions of backward class communities, as mandated by the state government.
Pradhan’s letter urged the Odisha CM to swiftly reconstitute the OSCBC to promote social justice and meet the needs of the state’s backward communities. The Minister expressed optimism that timely action would ensure legal representation and protect the rights and interests of backward class communities throughout Odisha.