Internal SC quota: Forming commission not "delay tactics," says Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru, Oct 31: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said that the government's decision to form a commission to gather empirical data for providing internal reservation among Scheduled Castes (SC), is not "delay tactics".
The cabinet on Monday gave its consent for providing internal reservation among SCs and decided to constitute a commission under a retired High Court judge, which will be asked to submit the report in three months.
"By forming this commission, the government is ensuring a fair, scientific, and unbiased implementation without any delay tactics. The government is committed to social justice and will work inclusively, without compromising on the interests of any community," Siddaramaiah said in a statement.
A section of SCs, especially 'SC Left', has been demanding internal reservation, alleging only a few influential sub-castes were taking away a majority of the benefits while many communities were still marginalised.
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Just ahead of the 2023 Assembly polls, the previous BJP government's cabinet had taken a decision on internal reservation, by recommending to the central government a six per cent internal quota for SC (Left), 5.5 per cent for SC (Right), 4.5 per cent for "touchables" (Banjara, Bhovi, Korcha, Kuruma etc) and one per cent for others.
The cabinet's decision on Monday came in the backdrop of a landmark verdict delivered by the Supreme Court on August 1, which held that states are constitutionally empowered to make sub-classifications within the SCs, which form a socially heterogeneous class, for granting reservation for the uplift of castes that are socially and educationally more backward.
Noting that the cabinet has given in-principle approval to implement internal reservation among SCs, addressing a longstanding demand for three decades, the CM said, Karnataka has 101 sub-groups within the SCs, and the government is working to bring internal reservation with a scientific approach, ensuring that all these groups are included and considered.
Also, citing the cabinet's decision to constitute a commission, he said the government has decided to pause new recruitment notifications for reserved positions in civil services and other departments until further notice.
The Telangana government has taken a similar step in establishing a commission for internal reservation, he said.
Noting that the Supreme Court has stated that scientific and accurate data is essential for implementing internal reservations properly, Siddaramaiah said, "to gather this data, the state government is forming this commission, which will ensure the report is submitted within the given timeline."
"Once the report is received, the government will proceed to implement internal reservations."
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
