OC Federation Stages Major Protest at Jantar Mantar Over EWS Reservation Concerns
The OC Social Welfare Association Federation organized a significant maha dharna at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Monday, voicing strong opposition to what they describe as a misinformation campaign against the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservation. The federation's leadership emphasized the need to protect the constitutionally mandated 10% EWS quota from false propaganda and divisive political tactics.
Key Demands Presented by Federation Leaders
Led by National President Poladi Ramarao, the federation outlined several critical demands during the protest. The primary call was for the establishment of a national-level OC commission to ensure proper implementation of EWS reservations. Other key demands included:
- Increasing the income limit for EWS certificates to Rs 10 lakh annually
- Filling all backlog posts reserved for OCs
- Extending political reservations to OCs in local body elections
- Raising age limits for students appearing in competitive examinations
- Implementing a creamy layer system across all reservation categories
Addressing Political Manipulation and Economic Disparities
Ramarao specifically criticized certain political forces for what he called misleading tactics designed to create community divisions for electoral gain. He urged the public to remain vigilant against such attempts to undermine the EWS reservation system.
The federation expressed particular concern about the financial disadvantages faced by OC candidates competing in general seats due to the absence of political reservations. They argued that without such protections, economically weaker candidates from OC communities struggle to participate effectively in the political process.
Broader Welfare and Agricultural Demands
Beyond reservation issues, the federation presented several additional demands related to broader social welfare:
- Constitutional amendments to facilitate implementation of the creamy layer system
- Extension of welfare schemes to farmers across communities
- Increasing the age limit for farmer insurance to 70 years
- Creating special legislation for fair crop pricing with farmer participation
- Integrating the national employment guarantee scheme with agricultural activities
Leadership and Protest Significance
The protest featured prominent federation leaders including Nalla Sanjeev Reddy, Gopu Jaipal Reddy, Amaravadi Lakshminarayana, and Gangu Upendra Sharma alongside Ramarao. They emphasized that the Delhi demonstration was specifically organized to bring their comprehensive set of demands to the attention of both central and state governments.
The federation's actions highlight growing concerns about the implementation and protection of EWS reservations, particularly regarding misinformation campaigns and the need for structural reforms to ensure equitable access for economically disadvantaged communities across India.
