Social justice for weaker Sections of the Society (SC, ST and BCs) is the need of the hour. The fruits of the development should reach the poorest of the poor. While addressing the gathering at AbhinandanaSabha for establishing new National Commission for Backward Classes as a constitutional body, at RTC kalabhavan in Hyderabad today, the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Housing and Urban Development and Urban poverty alleviation M. Venkaiah Naidu said that NDA government has taken historic decision to constitute a new national commission for backward classes with constitutional status. He further said that Economic and social disparities among the people should be reduced in the country.
The Union Minister also said that the Union government has proposed to create a National Commission for Backward Classes with constitutional status on par with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. Venkaiah further said that the Union cabinet under the able leadership of Narendra Modihas decided to address the long pending demand of BCs by giving constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes. The bill was introduced in Lok Sabha the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Third Amendment) Bill, 2017 on April 5 and also passed the legislation on April 10. He further said that the Bill is now in the Rajya Sabha and referred to the Select Committee. The committee will submit its report by the last day of the first week of the next session.
Speaking on the Kalelkar Commission Venakaiah said that the commission was set up in 1953 and it was the first to identify backward classes other than the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes at the national level. Venkaih Naidu also said that the Mandal Commission report of 1980 estimated the OBC population at 52% across the country. The number of backward castes and communities was 3,743 in the initial list of Mandal Commission set up in 1979-80 and it was increased to 5,013 in 2006 as per the report of the National Commission for Backward Classes.
Venkaiah informed that the Union government has also taken several initiatives for the welfare of the people which includes Jandhan Yojana, Mudra yojana, Janashree Bimayojana… etc. Speaking on the Mudra loans Venkaiah said that 60 % of the loans should be given to the women. The Union Minister also complemented the efforts of R.Krishnaiah National president of backward classes association for welfare of the BCs. The Union minister of state for labour and employment (Independent Charge) Bandaru Dathatreya, and several BC leaders have also participated in the meeting. (NSS)