Report recommends expansion of Kerala’s list of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes

A report of the Kerala government’s Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms has suggested that the list of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) in the State be revised to include 28 Other Backward Classes (OBC) that do not find a place in it.

The recommendation is part of the Work Study Report 2025 prepared by the department for strengthening the Backward Classes Development Department (BCDD).

The report noted that currently there are 88 communities in Kerala’s OBC list, which forms the basis for the reservation benefits to State government service. That said, reservation benefits related to State-run courses in higher education are finalised on the basis of the SEBC list based on the Kumara Pillai Commission Report of 1965.

According to the report, the crux of the problem is that there are 28 communities that find a place in the State OBC list, but not in the SEBC one. Since these 28 communities are included only in the OBC list, they cannot claim reservation benefits with respect to education.

This could be perceived as a denial of social justice since these groups, backward both financially and educationally, are denied reservations with respect to education when students from economically backward families in the general category can claim such support, the report observed.

BC promoters

With the aim of improving the general functioning and service delivery of the BCDD, the report has recommended the appointment of Backward Classes promoter (BC promoter) in all 78 taluks. BC promoters, who may be paid a honorarium of ₹25,000 per month, will help the department to expand its reach to the grassroots and strengthen field-level operations, it noted.

Further, the report also recommended the creation of a Planning and Monitoring Cell headed by a Joint Director-ranked officer in the BCDD. The cell would monitor the progress on schemes and projects and examine the feasibility of new undertakings.

The Director, BCDD, had submitted a set of recommendations in September 2021, seeking the transformation of the four zonal offices into district offices and opening new offices in districts that lacked them. The Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department, examining the recommendations, had proposed a detailed study for strengthening the four zonal offices and directorate.