Ensure OBC quota in state medical institutions: Sonia
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday asked the government to ensure that no candidates from the other backward classes (OBC) are denied reservation in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Neet) for admission to medical colleges run by states and Union Territories.
Under the All India Quota, 15 per cent, 7.5 per cent and 10 per cent seats are reserved for SC, ST and economically weaker section (EWS) candidates respectively, in both Central and state/UT medical colleges. Ms Gandhi, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said that reservation for OBC candidates under All India Quota is restricted to Central institutions.
“As per the data compiled by the All India Federation of Other Backward Classes, since 2017, OBC candidates lost over 11,000 seats in All India Quota, due to non-implementation of OBC reservations in State/UT medical education institutions”.
The Congress president said that the 93rd Constitutional Amendment envisages special provisions for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the scheduled castes (SC) or the scheduled tribes (ST) in admission to educational institutions including private educational institutions, whether aided or unaided by the state, other than the minority educational institutions.
Thus “denial of reservations to OBCs in state medical institutions in All India Quota, being administered by GOI, violates the very objective of the 93rd Constitutional Amendment and is a barrier to access medical education for deserving OBC candidates”.
"In the interest of equity and social justice, I strongly urge the Union government to extend reservation for OBC candidates in All India Quota of medical and dental seats, even in the state/UT medical education institutions, she added.