New Delhi: Samajwadi Party MP Vishambhar Prasad Nishad has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding scrapping of the creamy layer which determines who among the Other Backward Classes (OBC) are eligible for the 27 per cent reservation in government jobs and admission to educational institutions.
In his letter dated 28 July, Nishad, who is a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of OBCs, has also sought reservation for the backward classes in private sector jobs and educational institutions, similar to the 10 per cent quota being given to the economically weaker sections in the general category since last year.
“There is no system of creamy layer among SC/ST and general categories. Then why should there be a creamy layer for OBCs. It has proved counterproductive,” Nishad told ThePrint.
The Rajya Sabha MP’s letter comes amid deliberations going on in the government about increasing the income ceiling for determining the creamy layer among OBCs.
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‘Income ceiling for creamy layer should be raised to Rs 15 lakh’
OBC’s — barring those who come under the creamy layer category with an annual income of over Rs 8 lakh — are entitled to 27 per cent reservation in central government jobs and admission to educational institutions.
In his letter, a copy of which has been accessed by ThePrint, Nishad said the system of creamy layer should be done away with completely.
“If it is not removed, then the annual income ceiling for determining creamy layer should be increased to Rs 15 lakh from the existing Rs 8 lakh, and salary and agricultural income should not be included to calculate a OBC household’s gross annual income,” the SP leader wrote.
Earlier this month, the social justice and empowerment ministry had proposed an increase of the income ceiling from the current Rs 8 lakh to Rs 12 lakh. It had also suggested including a person’s salary as part of the gross annual income, while deciding if members of the family are eligible for quota benefits.
But fearing a backlash from the community, ahead of the assembly elections in Bihar scheduled later this year, the Prime Minister’s Office has asked an informal group of ministers headed by Rajnath Singh to deliberate on the proposal.
Contrary to the ministry’s proposal, the Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of OBC’s has recommended that an individual’s salary should not be included while calculating the annual household income that decides eligibility of family members for reservation benefits.
It has also recommended increasing the annual income ceiling for the creamy layer category of OBC’s to Rs 15 lakh.
Nishad, in his letter, similarly says: “While determining the creamy layer, if the annual income ceiling is increased to Rs 12 lakh and salary and agricultural income are included to calculate gross annual income of the household, then many among OBCs who are getting the benefits now will be deprived…This will deprive OBCs of jobs and education.”
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