Hyderabad: Telangana State Backward Classes Commission chairman G Niranjan has appealed to the Union govt to include 40 backward castes in the central Other Backward Classes (OBC) list. He sent a letter to this effect to Union social justice and empowerment minister Virendra Kumar.In his letter, Niranjan pointed out that when Telangana was formed, the central OBC list for the state was announced in 2016. However, while there were already 112 castes recognised in the state BC list, the central govt had announced a list that included only 90 castes. Subsequently, the state added orphans and 17 other castes, raising the total number of castes in the state BC list to 130. As a result, there were now 40 castes that need to be included in the central list, he added.Niranjan emphasised that the state govt has repeatedly requested the inclusion of these castes in the central list since 2016. The then principal secretary, BC Welfare, sent multiple letters on the matter between 2016 and 2020. Also, in Dec 2021, a hearing was held in Delhi under the National BC Commission to discuss the inclusion of all 40 castes in the central OBC list.Another hearing took place on Sept 5, 2023, in New Delhi, led by National BC Commission chairman Hansraj Gangaram Ahir. However, the central govt was yet to announce its decision regarding the inclusion of these 40 castes. Niranjan noted that people from these castes were missing out on opportunities in central govt educational institutions and jobs.
