RBA Students Association Opposes Any Further Dilution of Quota, Warns of Unrest
Srinagar, Dec 5: The RBA Students Association of Jammu and Kashmir has issued a resolution opposing any further dilution of the Reservation Backward Area quota, claiming that the community has already suffered significant cuts over the years. The statement, released on Thursday, stressed that even a one percent reduction would amount to what it called a direct attack on backward belts of the region.
According to the Association, the RBA share was halved from 20 percent to 10 percent in 2020 during the tenure of the then Lieutenant Governor G. C. Murmu. The body argued that the reduction was carried out without any census, survey or accepted scientific method, and said the remaining quota should not be subjected to further rationalisation. “The Association rejects any further move to dilute even one percent from the present share without any rationale,” the resolution stated.
The group said that rationalisation of reservation should be uniform across all categories and must be backed by updated and transparent data. It further demanded the restoration of district-cadre and division-cadre recruitment, calling it the most effective solution for ensuring equitable opportunities in backward areas. The Association also insisted that any rationalisation exercise must be based on a proper census, survey or other scientific approach.
Citing population figures, the group said that RBA communities constitute about 32 percent of Jammu and Kashmir’s population and that 3,046 villages in the region fall under backward areas, accounting for roughly 45 percent of rural belts. It argued that the quota percentage should reflect this proportion and claimed that the earlier 20 percent allocation was more appropriate.
The Association, as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust warned that any further reduction in the quota could trigger unrest in backward belts and deepen regional disparities. It reiterated its demand for the restoration of the erstwhile 20 percent RBA reservation. The body concluded that it would continue to advocate for the rights of backward communities within the framework of the Indian Constitution. [KNT]
