Real poor deserve reservations: Sivaji

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh SC/ST Commission chairman Karem Sivaji alleged the announcement of 10 per cent reservations in the jobs and educational institutions to the economically backward upper caste people by the Union government was irrational and unscientific. He wondered who would derive benefit with the reservations announced by the Union government.

Sivaji spoke to the media at the SC, ST Commission office here on Wednesday. He said the announcement of the Union government is in favour of rich people. He opined that the Centre’s move lacks any rationale and it was unscientific.

Referring to the Rs 8 lakh income limit set by the government for availing reservations, he said the government was collecting Income Tax for those who earn Rs 2.5 lakh a year and scholarships were also being denied to the families earning Rs 2.5 lakh a year. He questioned how a family which earns Rs 8 lakh per year becomes economically backward.

He said he would welcome reservations to the real economically backward upper class people. He felt that the Centre failed to consult the legal experts before the announcement of reservations. 

He also questioned how a family which owns five acres land is treated economically backward family. He suggested to the government to give reservations to those upper castes, who are really backward politically, socially and economically.