*Areas for inclusion of Paharis as STs identified
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 13: Grant of reservation under Other Backward Classes (OBC) category to Kashmiri Sikhs and Pandits, who stayed put in the Valley during 32 years of turmoil is under consideration after receiving representations from their representatives while exact percentage to be granted to the OBCs and Paharis is likely to be worked out very shortly as Justice GD Sharma Commission for Socially Backward Classes which recommended reservations has reportedly not mentioned percentage and left it to the Government.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Justice Sharma Commission received representations from Kashmiri Sikhs and Kashmiri Pandits, who stayed in the Valley during over three decades of militancy braving all odds, for grant of OBC status and reservation.
“Representations of both Kashmiri Sikhs and Pandits, who didn’t migrate from the Valley, are under active consideration and a decision is expected soon. Their hopes got revived after the Government included West Pakistani refugees in the list of Other Social Castes along with 14 other communities,” sources said, adding the order of OSC reservation for more communities was withdrawn as the Government is going to give reservation to OBCs and castes getting reservation under OSC will become part of OBCs.
As term of Justice Sharma Commission is till March 2023, it can take a call on representations submitted by Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs, sources said.
As far as percentage of reservation to be granted to OBCs, sources said, the Commission is silent on it in the absence of census or caste census but it was expected to significantly go up from four percent to which the OSCs were entitled at present. However, the Government has to take all pros and cons into account before taking a call on percentage.
The Government of India gives 27 percent reservation to OBCs. Several States have fixed reservation to OBCs as per their population though most of States have kept it at 27 percent.
“Jammu and Kashmir too has significant population of OBCs and their reservation could be around 15 percent,” sources said but added that a final call has to be taken by the Jammu and Kashmir Government and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
There has been long pending demand from the OBCs for grant of reservation to them in Jammu and Kashmir on the ground that they are getting reservation at national level as well as majority of other States and Union Territories but were denied the same in J&K.
Sources said the Government has finally taken a decision that the OBCs will be accorded reservation after doing away with reservation under OSCs but a decision on percentage will be taken shortly by the Centre and UT Governments.
As far as reservation to Paharis is concerned, sources said the people of twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region, Lolab, Kupwara, Machil, Karnah, Uri, Gurez etc in Kashmir are going to be major beneficiaries among others.
On whether percentage of reservation under Scheduled Tribe category in which the Paharis have been included will go up as presently only Gujjars and Bakerwals were entitled to ST reservation, sources said the possibility is being explored.
“As only Gujjar and Bakerwals were enjoying reservation under ST category and now large number of Paharis are going to be include in the same category, the Government could slightly raise percentage,” sources said.
Only a week ago, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCSTs) had cleared reservation for Paharis under ST category.
Besides getting 10 percent reservations under ST category in Government jobs, educational institutions etc, the Pahari Ethnic Group, Paddari tribe, Koli and Gadda Brahmans will also be entitled to 10 percent political reservation as nine seats in the Legislative Assembly of 90 in Jammu and Kashmir have been reserved for STs including five in Jammu division and four in Kashmir.
Rajouri and Poonch districts in Jammu region and Baramulla and Kupwara districts in Kashmir have considerable population of Paharis among other areas. Paddari tribe mostly resides in Paddar and surrounding areas of Kishtwar. The Delimitation Commission has also approved one separate Assembly seat for Paddar.
Koli and Gadda Brahmans have limited population in different areas.
The STs enjoyed reservation in jobs, education etc, but they were denied political reservations in Jammu and Kashmir for a long time though such a reservation existed in Lok Sabha and Assemblies across the country. This was, however, after abrogation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August 5, 2019 that the Government extended political reservations to STs in J&K.
The Scheduled Castes have eight percent reservations in the Union Territory and, for them, seven seats, like earlier, are reserved in the Legislative Assembly. However, out of five, no Lok Sabha seat in J&K is reserved.
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