Minister Ponnam Prabhakar seeks OBC column in 2027 Census
Telangana Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has urged the Centre to add a separate OBC column in the 2027 Census and reconsider the 50% cap on reservations.
Telangana's Backward Classes Welfare and Transport Minister, Ponnam Prabhakar, has called for a separate OBC column in the 2027 Census so that the population of Backward Classes can be counted accurately and representation can be fixed in proportion to their numbers.
Speaking at a national OBC conference in Begumpet on Sunday, the Minister said a scientific enumeration of the BC population was necessary for fair representation. The event was organised by the National BC Welfare Association and the Rashtriya OBC Mahasang.
"The BC population should be scientifically enumerated, fair representation should be provided in proportion to the population and an OBC column should be included in the 2027 Census," he said, adding that a united nationwide effort was needed to secure the rights of BCs.
Mr. Prabhakar said Telangana had completed its caste census and sent the report to the Centre. The State, he said, was taking the BC agenda forward by bringing together leaders from the Congress and other political parties.
He also recalled his work on BC issues through the OBC Forum in Parliament during his time as an MP.
The Minister said there was no opposition to reservations for Economically Weaker Sections. However, he argued that the 50% ceiling on reservations should not stand in the way of representation for BCs in proportion to their population, and urged the Centre to reconsider the limit.
AICC secretary Sachin Sawant, government adviser V. Hanumantha Rao, and leaders, intellectuals and representatives of various OBC organisations from different States attended the conference.