Bhubaneswar, May 21: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday held a massive demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan on Tuesday, pressing for increased reservation for socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs) and Scheduled Castes and Tribes (SC/STs) in technical and professional education like Medical, engneering, etc.
Led by party leaders Dr. Arun Kumar Sahu (SEBC Cell), Ranendra Pratap Swain, Mangala Kisan (ST Cell), and Mahesh Sahu (SC Cell), the protest drew thousands of supporters. The leaders also submitted a memorandum to the Governor, urging the state to implement a 27% quota for SEBC students and 38.75% for SC/ST students in medical, engineering, and vocational education.
The memorandum criticized the recently announced 11.25% reservation for SEBCs in higher education as insufficient and misleading, noting the complete absence of such reservations in key fields like medical and engineering education. The party emphasized the need for urgent action, pointing out that many seats in these sectors remain vacant.
Citing examples from central institutions and other states that already provide 27% reservation for SEBCs, the BJD said Odisha is falling behind. It also demanded that the current SC/ST quota in professional education, limited to 20% (12% for STs and 8% for SCs), be brought in line with the 38.75% already applicable in general higher education.
The BJD reiterated its call for immediate and proportionate inclusion of marginalized communities in technical education, framing it as a matter of social justice and equitable access.
