* New OBC Certificates CLARIFIED * The first SDF Government, immediately after coming to power, had recommended to the Union Government to include seven communities - the Sikkimese of Nepali Origin - as Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (OBCs). This was a historic step that commissioned Affirmative Action for the weaker section of the population following the recommendations of the Mandal Commission. Consequently, Bhujel, Gurung, Limbu, Magar, Rai, Sunuwar and Tamang were declared OBC in Sikkim on June 2, 1994. This empowered these communities, except for the ‘creamy layer’, by making them eligible for reservation within Sikkim and India in Government Services and Higher Education. In December 2002, Limbus and Tamangs were accorded the status of the Scheduled Tribes in Sikkim and West Bengal. Following this development, in partial modification of earlier orders of the State through the Notification No. 2/WD of June 2, 1994 and Notification No. 236/SW/251(3) WD dated June 15, 2000, the Government of Sikkim declared Bhujel, Dewan, Gurung, Jogi, Kirat Rai, Magar, Sunuwar, and Thami as the Most Backward Classes (MBC). The Newar-Bahun-Chettri communities, generally considered forward and economically advanced, had not been a part of the OBC group. However, in tune with SDF’s pro-poor policies, the Government recognized that even within these communities there were disadvantaged sections. Thus, Bahun, Chhetri, Newar, and Sanyasi were given the status of Other Backward Classes (OBC), albeit only within Sikkim (vide Sikkim Government Gazette: Extraordinary, No. 308 dated Gangtok, September 19, 2003). This move fulfilled SDF President and Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s promise made in 1996 to the State that all Sikkimese of Nepali Origin will be accorded OBC benefits. In May this year, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) of the Central Government revised the format of OBC Certificates and asked state governments to advise the issuing authorities on the revised format. This was done as the government found that intended beneficiaries were facing trouble in availing the benefits as the form prescribed 21 years ago had not updated the fresh inclusions. The caste certificate issued by district authorities concerned mentioned the name of the caste and community of the applicant but the specific resolution under which the said caste or community was added on in the central list of OBCs was not indicated. All the certificate issuing authorities have now been directed to mandatorily mention the details of the Resolution (Number and Date) by which the caste/community of the candidate has been included in the central list of OBCs and also to ensure that he or she does not belong to creamy layer as amended from time to time. Due to this, the Sikkim Government decided to provide only OBC certificates to those who until recently were categorized as MBC -- a progressive move to reconcile with the benefits accorded to OBCs by the Center by way of reservation in Central Govt. Services and Universities. The problem was that MBC youth were not able to benefit from these reservations since MBC Certificates issued by the state are not recognized by the center. However, since the communities within MBC are part of the Central List of OBCs, giving them new OBC certificates sufficiently resolves this anomaly. The Newar-Bahun-Chettri-Sanyasi communities will continue to receive OBC benefits within the State, but as far as the Center is concerned, they are considered as General Category, just as they have always been.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 12:18:00 +0000