Mamata Stresses Backwardness as Basis for OBC Status in Bengal

Kolkata, June 10 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee emphasized on Tuesday that backwardness remains the sole criterion for determining the OBC status of individuals in the state.

Addressing the state Assembly, she highlighted that some sections have been spreading misinformation on social media, asserting strongly that religion plays no role in the decision to include someone in the OBC category.

Banerjee mentioned a government-commissioned survey currently assessing 50 new subsections for potential inclusion in the OBC category, following the same benchmark of backwardness.

In her address, she informed the House that 49 subsections have been included under OBC-A and 91 under OBC-B categories, emphasizing that more backward groups are classified under OBC-A, while less backward groups fall under OBC-B.

She delivered these remarks while presenting the annual report of the West Bengal Commission for Backward Classes for the financial year 2024-25 in the Assembly.

All inclusions to the categories, Banerjee explained, have been supported by detailed field surveys and recommendations by the commission tasked with the identification of such groups.