BHUBANESWAR: After a senior State Minister made a public statement that reservation ratio for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) would be brought down from the existing 27 per cent to 11 per cent in government jobs in Orissa, the issue has snowballed into a major controversy.

The State Congress on Monday threatened to launch an agitation to ensure the State Government maintained a status quo in its existing reservation policy.

Addressing a hurriedly convened Press conference here on Monday, Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Jayadeb Jena said, "we condemn the state government's declaration to bring down reservation for SEBC from 27 per cent to 11 per cent. This move will hit weaker section of the population badly." Minister of Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Caste Development, Minority and Backward Classes Welfare Chaitanya Prasad Majhi had said that the State Government would move a bill to reduce reservation ratio for SEBC in wake of Orissa High Court's verdict to cap all reservations at 50 per cent.

However, the announcement has not gone down well with the main Opposition party. "We are surprised by the alacrity with which the State Government has come forward to bring down the reservation ratio. The administration could have filed a review petition instead of showing its keenness to go against weaker section of the society," Mr. Jena said.

He said the party would soon chalk out a strategy to oppose the State Government's move in and outside the House.

Chairman of OPCC's OBC cell Jagannath Rout said when Backward Classes constituted 52 per cent of the State's total population and Scheduled Tribes were 39 per cent, the capping of reservation was not at all a welcome step, rather the reservation policy should have been relaxed.

Meanwhile, hundreds of government officials have kept their finger crossed in the wake of possible cut in reservation. Sources said government officials, who were selected after 1997 started uniting to fight the proposed quota reduction tooth and nail.

Soft stand

They fear even if the State Government takes a soft stand and implement the 11 per cent reservation for SEBC from the current year, it will have cascading impact in the administration, an officer of Orissa Administrative Service rank said. Career of hundreds of government employees will be in jeopardy, he said.

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