NEW DELHI: The bill to revamp the National Commission for Backward Classes, passed by Parliament on Monday, would elevate the OBC panel to Constitutional status, a symbolic measure which would put it at par with the panels for SCs and STs.

The bill is a key component in the political campaign of ruling BJP which, along with the proposed sub-categorisation of OBCs, would be used by the saffron camp to woo the backward communities in elections.

The opposition held up the amendment bill over reservations against some of its provisions but came around to vote for its passage in Parliament in the monsoon session. Interestingly, among the parties to object to its passage earlier were some of the Mandalite outfits.

Besides getting the Constitutional status, NCBC will now have powers to act as a grievance redressal body for OBCs on the lines of national commission for Scheduled Castes and for Scheduled Tribes. It will also be required to present annual reports to the President on the working of statutory safeguards for backwards, as is mandatory for the NCSC and the NCST.

The powers of NCBC are presently limited to inclusion in and exclusion from the Central list of OBCs and to suggesting the criteria for “creamy layer” for backward reservation. Interestingly, the power to inquire into grievances of OBCs is presently discharged by the NCSC.

The Constitutional amendment would also vest the backward panel with the powers to monitor the implementation of the safeguards for OBCs and to advise governments on the socio-economic development of the community. Besides, governments will consult with the OBC panel on important decisions regarding the community.

The political significance of the initiative for the ruling dispensation is in the grant of Constitutional status to the OBC panel – a move that will enable BJP to showcase its concern for the backwards while castigating the rivals for holding back the bill for a year.

All eyes are now on the proposed “sub-categorisation of OBCs” – which is aimed at wooing the weaker sections in the Central list of the backwards. Designed to ensure “equitable distribution” of reservation benefits among the OBCs, it involves division of backwards into categories like “backward”, “most backward” and “extremely backward” and sharing of 27% quota among them in proportion to their population.

While the stronger OBCs stand to lose from the initiative, it would help the weaker communities who form a bulk of the Mandal class.

