With the state headed for municipal elections this summer and Assembly polls next year,West Bengal on Monday decided to implement the Ranganath Misra Commission report and provide 10 per cent reservation in all government jobs for OBCs among Muslims. Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee made the announcement saying that the aim was to give a boost to the Muslims in the state who were socially,economically and educationally backward. At present,the reservation is only for jobs and not in educational institutions. It will not be done on the basis of religion as that would necessitate an amendment to the Constitution but will be done by including more communities from Muslims in the OBC category,a process followed in Left-ruled Kerala where almost 97 per cent of Muslim population has been included in the OBC category. In West Bengal,7 per cent of government jobs are already reserved for OBCs who include both Hindus and Muslims. Now 10 per cent of all jobs will be reserved for Muslim OBCs only. So far 12 Muslim communities,numbering about 16.83 lakh,in the state have been included in the OBC category. Three more Muslim communities are going to be included in the category. We have discussed the matter in the Left Front and have decided that we will implement the Ranganath Misra Commission report for Muslims who are socially,economically and educationally backward. Of course,we will exclude the creamy layer those who are earning Rs 4.5 lakh a year from this category, Bhattacharjee said. He also said that a committee comprising representatives of the Minorities department,the Backward Class Welfare department,the Minorities Commission and the Backwards Commission would be set up to oversee the implementation.
