"The Central Government of India classifies some of its citizens based on their social and economic condition as Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Class (OBC). The OBC list presented by the National Commission for Backward Classes is dynamic (castes and communities can be added or removed) and is subject to change from time to time depending on social, educational and economic factors. For example, the OBCs are entitled to 27 % reservations in public sector employment and higher education. In the Constitution, OBCs are described as ‘socially and educationally backward classes’, and the government is enjoined to ensure their social and educational development. The population of OBCs below poverty line was 22.6% in rural area and 15.4% in urban area whereas the population of SCs was 31.5% and 21.7% in rural and urban area respectively and the population of ST was 45.3% in rural area and 24.1% in urban area as per the poverty estimate released by the Planning Commission on the basis of Household Consumer Expenditure Survey undertaken by NSSO, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation during 2011-12. The Backward Classes Division in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment looks after the policy, planning and implementation of programmes related to social and economic empowerment of OBCs. It also looks after matters relating to two institutions set up for the welfare of OBCs: National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) and the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).
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Jayant Ram is Professor of History and Anthropology at reputed University. As a social activist, he was deeply involved in the social movement and did a research study on the movement. He writes regularly both for national journals and magazine publications.