PANAJI
The State government on Tuesday notified 19 communities from the State OBC list as eligible for reservation of seats for political representation in local bodies.
The notification gains significance in light of the State Election Commission leaving out OBCs in its reservation of wards for the upcoming August 10 panchayat elections.
The notification lists the following communities: 1) Kumbhar (including Christian Kumbhar). 2) Teli (including Christian Teli). 3) Shimpi. 4) Christian Mahar. 5) Kalaikar/Blacksmith/Tinsmith. 6) Pagui/Gabit. 7) Christian Barber. 8) Satarkar. 9) Bhandari Naik. 10) Dhobi/Rajak/Madval (including Christian Dhobi). 11) Nhavi/Navi/Nabhik/Napit/Mahalo (including Christian Nhavi). 12) Koli/Kharvi (including Christian Kharvi). 13) Nathjogi. 14) Gosavi. 15) Dhangar. 16) Vishwakarma/Chari/Mesta. 17) Thakker. 18) Komarpant. 19) Render (including Christian Render), states the notification.
The notification issued by Panchayat Director, Siddhi T Halarnkar, who also doubles up as ex-officio joint secretary to the government, states that it will remain in force for the purpose of provisioning reservation in favour of the notified Other Backward Classes for the 2022 General Elections to Village Panchayats.
The notification, however, does not automatically provide OBC reservations in the panchayat elections. That will be the prerogative of the State Election Commission (SEC), which may choose to use the list and possibly issue a corrigendum to provide quota of wards for these 19 sub-castes of OBCs and alter the reservation it has hitherto made only for women, SCs and STs.
