Panel suggests legal steps to categorise OBCs into sub-groups

In a written reply to the House, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment D Napoleon said, "Planning Commission constituted a working group on April 2011 on empowerment of OBCs, Nomadic, Semi-Nomadic and Denotified Tribes for formulation of 12th Five Year Plan."

The working group constituted three sub-groups and one of these groups suggested that, "legal measures may be taken to categorize OBCs into two sub-groups- BC and MBC- on the basis of their social, economic and educational status."

On decision taken by the government on these suggestions, Napolean said that the working group has not provided any further details in this regard and no decision has been taken on it.

Replying to a question on providing driving licence to differently-abled persons, the Minister said, "To bring relief to persons with disabilities, government has introduced the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2012, which has since been passed by the Rajya Sabha on May 8, 2012."