Odisha to conduct survey of backward classes

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes (Amendment) Bill 2020 was passed in the state assembly on Monday.

It would enable the Commission to make survey of the social and educational conditions of the people belonging to the backward classes.

The state assembly also passed a unanimous resolution to conduct a survey of the social and educational conditions of the people belonging to the backward classes.

The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

The survey will be conducted by a recently constituted commission for backward classes led by former Orissa high court judge Justice Raghunath Biswal.

“In a historic decision, our Odisha legislative assembly has passed a unanimous resolution to take up survey of the social and educational conditions of the people belonging to the backward classes. This will go a long way in empowering the backward classes,” Chief Minister told media persons.

The move of the state government comes days after the Centre turned down Odisha’s demand for a simultaneous socio-economic caste census along with the general Census 2021.

The government has recently announced to constitute a commission for backward classes to be headed by former Orissa HC judge Raghunath Biswal.