The Nair Service Society (NSS) has criticised the Central government's move to hike the income ceiling for the creamy layer among the Backward Classes from the present Rs.4.5 lakh a year to Rs.9 lakh for rural areas and Rs.12 lakh for those from metros.
In a statement here on Friday, NSS general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair pointed out that the Central government's decision to increase the ceiling from Rs.2.5 lakh to Rs.4.5 lakh was already under the consideration of the Supreme Court. The latest decision would mean that those having a monthly income of Rs.1 lakh in metros and Rs.75,000 in other areas would be eligible for inclusion in the creamy layer.
Calling for a review of the decision to hike the income ceiling, the NSS leader said that the Central government's decisions should be aimed at ensuing social justice for those among the backward and forward communities.
Alleging that the decision smacked of opportunism and went against the principle of social justice, the NSS chief alleged that the move was aimed at appeasing the rich among certain communities in view of the coming elections in certain States. He came down heavily on the contention of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) that the hike was necessitated by the fact that certain reservation posts could not be filled on account of lack of eligible persons from the Backward Classes and alleged that this was an attempt to usurp all other posts.
“This will benefit only the richer segment among the backward communities at the cost of the poorer segments,” Mr. Nair said. The NSS leader pointed out that the National Commission for the Economically Backward Among Forward Communities had submitted its report more than 15 months ago. However, the authorities had failed to make any decision on it. Whereas the NCBC had submitted its report just two months ago. “This is a clear pointer to the fact that the decision was motivated by the ensuing elections,” he said.
“If the authorities were sincere in the uplift of the socially, educationally, and economically backward sections among the backward communities, they should have initiated steps that would ensure more educational opportunities and assure necessary social infrastructure that would bring them on a par with their richer brethren,” Mr. Nair said.
