After Patels, Rajputs, Brahmins want quota in Gujarat, approach OBC Commission

Gandhinagar, Dec 4 (IANS) After the Patidars and Rajputs, it is the Brahmin community that has come out in Gujarat to seek reservations, approached the Other Backward Class (OBC) Commission on Monday asking it to carry out a survey of the community.

The Shree Samast Gujarat Brahm Samaj on Monday approached former high court judge Sugyaben Bhatt, the commissioner of the Gujarat OBC Commission Commissioner Sugnyaben Bhatt, a former high court judge.

A delegation of the Samaj cited the instance of the Maharashtra Government, which recently announced 16 per cent reservations for the 32 per cent Marathas and promised to bring in legislation for the purpose.

According to the community forum, there are about 60 lakh Brahmins in Gujarat, comprising around 15 lakh families, or approximately 9.5 per cent population of the state.

"About 70 per cent of these, that is more than 42 lakh Brahmins, are not well off economically. The Brahmins in rural areas are becoming backward economically, socially and educationally," said Yagnesh Dave, the convener, Shree Samast Gujarat Brahm Samaj.

"Today we met the commission and asked for a survey to be carried out to find out the economically/ educationally backward among us", he said.

Dave said the commission expressed willingness for the survey and "we also assured them of our cooperation."

Main demands by the community to the Commission was inclusion of some sub-castes of Brahmins under the economically backward class category.

There are currently sub-castes such as the Rajgor, Warngar, Madhaik, Teraiya, Raviya, Mandir and Mehta from the community, which has found place among the Scheduled Castes (SC), he said.

The other demands were recruiting Brahmin youth in Sanskrit Universities for courses in 'Karmkand' (rituals).