Dikhyaa Mohanty 
On Wednesday, the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) demanded that a 27% quota for OBCs be put into effect immediately in all government jobs and educational institutions, including technical and professional colleges. At Raj Bhavan, a group of BJD MPs and MLAs presented the governor of Odisha with a memorandum. The Odisha government’s recent decision to provide an 11.25% reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) in higher education was applauded by the party as inadequate.
BJD officials noted that important fields where OBC participation is still low, such as engineering and medical institutions, are not covered by the existing policy. The memorandum also called attention to the underrepresentation of Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Scheduled Castes (SCs) in professional education, highlighting wider inequities. STs and SCs currently only receive 12% and 8% reservation in medical, engineering, and technical institutions, respectively, despite making up 22.5% and 16.25% of the state’s population. This is a 20% reservation, which is much less than the 38.75% reservation granted to them in other higher education streams.
In order to guarantee consistent 27% OBC quotas for all educational and vocational programs, the BJD encouraged the governor to assist in revising the reservation laws. Additionally, they demanded that the ST and SC quotas in technical education be raised to reflect their respective demographic shares. The BJD reiterated its dedication to social justice, stressing that it has continuously promoted inclusive development and the empowerment of underrepresented groups.
