Raj cabinet approves quota for Gujjars, others

The Rajasthan cabinet on Thursday approved of the creation of a special category for giving reservation to Gujjars and three other backward castes as also quotas for economically backward class among upper castes.

The cabinet meet, presided by Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje, also decided to summon an assembly session to pass the cabinet decision on the floor of the House.

Breifing the media about the cabinet decisions in Jaipur, Parliamentary Minister Rajendra Ratore and Law Minister Gahnsyam Tiwari said the cabinet approved the decison of according five per cent quota to Gujars, Banjara Gadia Lohar and Raika under the special category and 14 percent reservation for econmically backward class among Brahmins, Rajputs, Vaishyas and Kayasthas.

They said these quotas would be accorded without tampering the resevations of the Meenas and the OBC category.

Tiwari said Gujjars, Banjara, Gadia Lohar and Raika would get all benefits in state government services, edcuational institutes, panchayati raj institutions and in elections to local bodies.

However, the benefits Brahamins, Rajputs, Kayasthas and vaishyas would enjoy under the 14 per cent reservation would be decided on economic criteria after consultations with the legal experts and reprsentatives of all the four castes, Tiwari said.

The ministers said the resevation to these two categories was not given with any intention to reap political gains.