New Delhi:Union petroleum and steel minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged the Odisha chief minister to give OBC (Other Backward Caste) and SEBC (Socially & Educationally Backward Caste) students reservation in jobs and state educational institutions.

Pradhan, in a letter to Patnaik on Thursday, has stated that the Odisha government should give OBC and SEBC. According to Article 15(4) & 16(4) of the Constitution of India, the Central government has reserved 27% jobs and seats in educational institutions. The Supreme Court has also endorsed this reservation for OBC and SEBC.

“As you are aware, OBCs/ SEBCs constitute a considerable portion of the total population, many of whom also face the scourge of poverty and illiteracy necessitating a special treatment to the communities boh in the field of education and employment”, Pradhan has pointed out in his letter.

The union minister has requested the chief minister to provide higher reservation for OBCs in the field of public employment and education institutions and for SEBCs in educational institution for overall well being of the people belonging to these two categories.