Jat reservation: NCBC to conduct public hearing in 9 states

Reservation for Jats in Central Government jobs has moved a step forward with the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) deciding to conduct public hearing in nine States before arriving at a conclusion.
This move by the commission comes a month after the government asked it to take an early decision on providing reservation for the community in central government jobs.
It is widely believed that inclusion of Jat community members in the central list of OBCs would benefit the Congress electorally, at a time when general elections are round the corner.
"We have written to the Governments in nine States on public hearing. The Chairman and other members of the Commission would be present in the hearing, which is meant to elicit the views of the general public," NCBC sources told PTI.

An approximate number of nine crore Jats are living in nine States such as Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Bihar.
Besides, the Commission has also asked the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) to conduct a study on the status of Jats, for which, it has provided the required materials. ICSSR is expected to return to the backward classes commission with its report in the next two weeks, sources said.
"Meanwhile, the commission would also prepare the report based on the public hearing. Both the reports would be collaborated and sent to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment before February end," the sources added.

Thereafter, the ministry would in turn place the report in the Union Cabinet, an official said.