Amend constitution for quota to poor in gen category: Athawale

Amid growing demands for quota from Jats, Patidars and Marathas, Union minister Ramdas Athawale today pitched for constitutional amendment for raising the reservation ceiling by 25 per cent to include the poor from general categories.
Claiming that raising the reservation limit will end disputes over quota, the Union Minister of State for Social Justice said he will approach the Prime Minister in this regard.
"There should be reservation for poor in general castes, like for Jats in Haryana, Patels in Gujarat, Marathas in Maharashtra and even Brahmins. This can be done by amending the constitution and raising the reservation limit to 75 per cent from current 50 per cent," Athawale said.

However, the change should be made without tinkering with the current reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs, he said, adding his party, RPI, will pass a resolution in this regard at its national convention in Bengaluru.
Earlier, Athawale had said as per 2011 census, there are 16.6 per cent SCs, 5.6 per cent STs and 52 per cent OBCs in the country, which accounts for 77.2 per cent of the population, while they are getting 49.5 per cent reservation.
The remaining 22.8 per cent of the population are getting 50.5 per cent reservation. So another way could be that, reservation should be given as per population of each caste, he had said.

At present, according to the constitution, 15 per cent seats are reserved for the SCs, 7.5 per cent for STs and 27 per cent for OBCs in central government-funded higher education institutions and jobs and even in elections.