10% reservation for ‘economically weak’ general category

Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in 2019, the center has  come up with what seems to be another election bait and decided to amend the constitutional  to enable 10 per cent reservation in government jobs and education for economically weaker general category.

A constitutional amendment bill is likely to be moved on Tuesday  on the last day of the current leg of the winter session of Parliament. The reservation will apply to those earning Rs 8 lakh or less annually and owning up to five acres of land.

Article 15 of the Constitution allows the state to make special provisions only for the "socially and educationally backward classes or for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes". Article 16 allows the state to make such provisions for backward classes in public employment to improve representation.

The 10% quota for the general category will exceed the 50% cap placed by the Supreme Court on reservations.

Unlike the reservation for SC/ST/OBCs, caste is not going to be a criterion for eligibility to the reservation under this new provision. In fact, sources revealed that the government's move plan to delineate the economically weaker section (EWS) for avoiding confusion.

The Congress party questioned the timing of the move made by the Centre and termed is as a "poll gimmick".

Congress leader Harish Rawat said,"Bohot der kar di meherbaan aate aate". "No matter what they do, what 'jumlas' they give, nothing is going to save this Government", he added.