Bhubaneswar: The State Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday decided to make an amendment to the Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes (OSCBC) Act, 1993 to include 22 castes in SEBC List.
Article 15(4) of the Constitution of India—enables the State to make any special-provisions for the advancement of any Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) of citizens.
Further, Article 46 of the Constitution of India provides that, the State shall promote, with special care, the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people and will protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.
Presently, there are 22 castes/communities along with their synonyms, which have already been notified by the Government of India as OBCs for the State of Odisha, through various notifications from time to time with regard to their social and educational backwardness, but they have not yet been included in the list of SEBCs of State, said Development Commissioner (DC) Pradeep Kumar Jena.
In view of the social and educational backwardness of these 22 castes/communities along with their synonyms, they are required to be included in the list of SEBCs for the State for extending all social welfare measures and benefits leading to their inclusive growth, thereby bringing them to the mainstream of development, he said.
Today, the Cabinet has approved the proposed amendment of the Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes (OSCBC) Act, 1993 by inserting subsection 3 under Section -9, enabling the State Government to include such Backward Classes in the State list of SEBCs, if the said backward classes have been specified in the central list of OBCs for the State of Odisha.
The Cabinet has decided to enhance grant-in aid (GIA) to the teaching and non-teaching staff of aided non-Government colleges, including erstwhile junior colleges in pursuant to the Odisha Revised Scales of Pay Rules,2017 (7th Pay) with retrospective effect from January 1, 2022.
The teaching and non-teaching employees of the Non-Government colleges who are governed under the Odisha (Aided Colleges, Aided Junior Colleges and Aided Higher Secondary Schools) Grant-in-Aid Order, 2017 have been extended enhanced Grant-in-Aid on the basis of Odisha Revised Scale of Pay Rules, 2017.
Certain categories of employees were dissatisfied with such enhancement and after considering their concern it has been decided for revision of pay on the basis of Odisha Revised Scale of Pay Rules, 2017 with effect from 1st January, 2022, Jena said.
So, the Government has decided to extend the Grant-in-Aid on the basis of ORSP Rules, 2017 (7th pay) with effect from 01.01.2022 and thereby actual enhanced financial benefit should be effective from January 1, 2022.The Development Commissioner said 15711 teaching and non-teaching employees will get such enhanced financial benefits and the Government will have to bear an additional financial burden of Rs. 290 crore per annum.