Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Thursday called for raising the bar on reservation from present 49.5 % to 80 % for OBCs, SC/STs and other sections of the population.

"The reservation (in government jobs and educational institutions) be hiked to 80 % to be in sync with the population benefiting from the incentive," he told a public meeting during his civic reception at Banshidhar secondary school under Adapur block in Bihar's east Champaran district.

The number of people (OBCs, SC/STs and other sections) benefitting from reservation system stood at 80 % of total population of Bihar, Manjhi said and mooted for reservation limit (at 49.5 %) to be raised to 80 % to meet employment and educational aspirations of the beneficiaries. The Chief Minister, who himself hails from a Mahadalit Mushar caste, said he would work for building a consensus on the issue with like-minded parties and, if needed, may launch an agitation to press for the reservation bar to be raised to 80 %.

Manjhi said he has taken upon himself to build a consensus on the issue with like minded parties and spearhead a stir in this regard, if required.

He urged lawmakers of different parties to demand for raising reservation limit in the current winter session of Parliament.

Manjhi alleged the NDA government was discriminating against Bihar and claimed the state plan size as well as funds under the MNREGA, IAY and BRGF have been slashed considerably to derail development and welfare activities in the state.