BC Quota Exercise Gains Momentum, Focus Shifts to Socio-Economic Factors

A dedicated commission set up by the state government to determine Backward Classes (BC) reservations for local body elections toured the erstwhile East Godavari district on Monday. Headed by Chairman Rajeev Ranjan Mishra, the panel conducted a public hearing at the R&B Guest House in Rajamahendravaram, gathering representations from various caste associations and holding detailed discussions with district officials on the socio-economic status of BC communities.

Addressing the media after the session, Mishra emphasised that the reservation framework would go beyond mere caste-based population figures. He stated that social and economic backwardness would serve as the primary basis for decision-making. Alongside demographic data, regional variations would also be assessed before preparing the final report. The visit, he said, was intended to gain a clear understanding of ground realities .

During the review meeting, the chairman instructed officials to furnish detailed reports on BC reservations in previous local body elections, particularly data related to sarpanch posts, the number of seats allotted, and those secured by BC candidates. He also called for comprehensive data from earlier surveys . Reassuring stakeholders, Mishra said the process of finalising reservations would be carried out in a transparent manner, factoring in constituency-wise population distribution.

Officials noted that the commission’s primary goal is to ensure equitable access to government benefits and proper political representation for BC communities. The meeting was attended by senior district officials and other representatives.