Do backward classes have political representation? Odisha panel to find out

Do backward classes have political representation? Odisha panel to find out The panel will be headed by retired High Court judge Pramath Patnaik.

What happened

In practice, the Odisha administration on Wednesday constituted a commission for the socially and educationally backward classes (SEBC) to study their representation in local self-government institutions and assess their political representation.

Notably, the commission, headed by retired High Court judge Pramath Patnaik, will examine the "nature and implications of political backwardness" of the SEBC categories. It comprise a significant portion of the state's population. Authorities stated a notification in this regard was issued after the proposal was approved by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

Specifically, the commission will study the proportion of SEBCs in the population of rural and urban areas and assess their representation in local self-government institutions in relation to their population share. It will additionally assess their political representation and examine the extent of their political backwardness.

The bottom line

For now, do backward classes have political representation? Odisha panel to find out remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.