The government has decided to provide job quota for the economically backward among the forward communities in the State. The reservation process will be rolled out in the recruitment to Devaswoms, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.
Briefing the media after a Cabinet meeting here on Wednesday, he said 10% of the seats in Devaswom recruitment would be reserved for the new category. The decision to begin with Devaswoms was taken since it would not require a constitutional amendment. Mr. Vijayan said the Cabinet had formally approved the proposal that was mooted by the LDF.
He said the State would exert pressure on the Centre for a constitutional amendment to implement the quota in other sectors. The Cabinet also decided to enhance the reservation for SC/ST communities from 10% to 12%, Ezhava community from 14% to 17% and other backward communities from 3% to 6%. The Devaswom Recruitment Board rules would be amended for the purpose.
Terming the Cabinet decision as historic, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said the reservation for the economically backward among the forward communities would be introduced in five Devaswom boards without affecting the existing quotas.
A pressnote quoting the Minister said the decision would ensure social justice for people from forward communities who were suffering because of their financial status.