Union Minister favours increasing reservation

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale today favoured an increase in reservation by 25 per cent to accommodate a few other castes without touching the quota of SC, ST, and OBC population.
Addressing a press conference here, Athawale, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, appealed to all political parties to come forward and supportthis demand.
He said different communities ike Marathas in Maharashtra, Patels in Gujarat and the Jat community in Haryana were demanding reservation.
Athawale said the Central government should change laws suitably to meet the demand for quota by those not covered.
However, he said 77 per cent of SC, ST and OBC population was getting 49.5 per cent reservation, and it should not be touched. The creamy layer condition should be implemented.

The union minister earlier reviewed centrally-aided projectsrelated towelfare of Scheduled Castes, backward classesandpersons with disability at a meeting with state government officials here.
During the meeting, he said atrocities against Dalits were less in Kerala compared to other states.
The Minister said the Centre was in the process of granting deemed university status to the National Institute of Speech and Hearing here.