 "Congress MP Geniben Thakor demands splitting Gujarat’s OBC quota to address disparities benefiting only a few castes.")
Congress MP Geniben Thakor has proposed splitting the 27 percent reservation quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC) in Gujarat to address inequality among castes. In her letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she highlighted that only a few castes are benefiting from the current system, while many “extremely backward castes,” such as Thakor, Koli, and others, receive minimal support. Thakor suggests reserving 7 percent for the more advantaged groups and 20 percent for those who have been largely excluded over the past 20 years. She argues that without this division, disparities will persist, leaving the most disadvantaged castes in continued poverty, as seen in other states like Bihar and Odisha.
Congress MP Geniben Thakor has called for a change in the reservation system for Other Backward Classes (OBC) in Gujarat. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi dated September 17, Thakor proposed that the current 27 percent OBC quota be divided into two parts to ensure better representation for all backward castes in the state.
Thakor highlighted that out of the 146 OBC castes in Gujarat, only five to ten have been receiving the majority of the benefits, while many “extremely backward castes” are left with minimal support. She noted that groups such as Thakors, Kolis, and others are seeing only one or two percent of the benefits over the last 20 years, creating a significant disparity.
To address this issue, Thakor suggested allocating 7 percent of the OBC quota to the dominant castes currently benefiting, while reserving 20 percent for the extremely backward communities that have been historically neglected. She emphasized the need for a survey to assess the actual benefits received by different castes over the years.
Thakor warned that without these changes, the gap between the affluent and the economically weaker castes will continue to widen. She pointed out that other states like Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal have successfully implemented similar strategies to enhance equality within their reservation systems.
This proposed alteration is critical to fostering social justice and ensuring that all backward castes receive equitable support in Gujarat.
Tags: Geniben Thakor, OBC reservation, Gujarat, caste system, social justice, economic disparity.
What is the demand regarding OBC quota in Gujarat?
The demand is to split the OBC quota to make sure different castes get fair representation.
Why is Congress MP asking for this split?
The Congress MP believes that splitting the quota will help address issues of underrepresentation among various castes within the OBC group.
How would this change affect the people in Gujarat?
If the quota is split, more specific benefits and opportunities might go to different castes, which could help reduce inequality.
Is this demand supported by all political parties?
Not all parties support this demand. Some may have different views on how to handle OBC representation and quotas.
What could happen next regarding this demand?
The demand may lead to discussions in the government, and there could be possible changes to the laws or policies related to caste representation in the near future.
 "Despite political upheavals in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Indian Minister Jaishankar remains hopeful for positive regional relations and cooperation.")
