The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Amendment) Bill, 2019 has been introduced in the Lok Sabha today.
Moving the Bill, Minister for Law and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad said the amendment seeks to extend the reservation for SCs and STs by another ten years. He said, reservation is to expire by January next year, and the Bill is intended to extend it till January 2030.
He however said, the Anglo-Indian community is not included in the scope of this Bill as their total population as per the Census-2011 is only 296 in the whole country.
Initiating discussion, Hibi Eden of Congress said, the population figure of Anglo-Indians as referred to by the Minister is grossly under-estimated and said nomination for them in legislative bodies should be extended.
He said a committee should be constituted to study the present socio-economic, education and job status of the Anglo-Indian community in the country.
Dr Heena Gavit of the BJP said, the human development index of the SCs and STs are far below as compared to the national average and said the extension of the reservation is a step in the right direction.
DMK member Kanimozhi said the nomination of Anglo Indians in state legislatures is being sought to be repealed without consulting the state governments concerned and charged that the powers of the states are being appropriated by the Centre.
Welcoming the extension of reservation for the SCs and STs, she stressed that Women’s Reservation Bill should also be passed.
Saugata Roy of AITC said the mosaic of Indian society consists of people of all faith and said the Anglo-Indians should not be excluded in the Bill.
Krupal B.Tumane of the Shiv Sena welcomed the Bill, adding the plight of Anglo-Indians should also be considered.
Sunil Kumar Pintu of the JD(U) welcomed the Bill and suggested that those from the reserved category who have been elevated to a significant level in terms of economic status and power may give up the reservation so that other deserving people in the same category could be benefitted.
Bhartruhari Mahtab of the BJD expressed concern over the changing demography of tribal and forest areas due to industrialization and urbanization.
Supriya Sule of the NCP while welcoming the extension of the reservation said all stakeholders should have been consulted before drafting the Bill. The discussion is on.
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