Ganesh Kendale
MUMBAI: The state cabinet Thursday decided to send a recommendation to Centre to increase the non-creamy layer income cap for OBCs from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 15 lakh per year.
The cabinet decided to issue an ordinance to accord statutory status to Maharashtra State Commission for Scheduled Castes. The ordinance will be placed for approval in the next assembly session.
To take advantage of OBC reservation and schemes, a non-creamy layer certificate is mandatory, which is currently set at a household income limit of Rs 8 lakh per annum.This means a person from the OBC community can’t benefit from govt schemes if his family income is above that limit.
During the budget session in July, OBC welfare minister Atul Save said govt would be sending a proposal to Centre to increase the creamy layer limit to Rs 15 lakh. The income limit is fixed by department of personnel and training of Centre’s personnel ministry.
Save had said due to the rise in govt salaries after the 7th Pay Commission, the salaries of govt employees had increased. As a result, many could not take advantage of the scheme meant for the community, and their children could not apply for reservations and scholarships.
Community leaders say a higher income cap is needed. “For the last 30 years, the cap has remained at Rs 8 lakh per annum. It must be raised to at least Rs 30 lakh per annum,” said OBC Jan Morcha leader Chandrakant Bavkar.
