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"Forward class" is used in does not publish a separate list of forward classes. The population of these communities is estimated at around 36–39% of the Indian population based on various surveys conducted by Government of India. http://mospi.nic.in/rept%20_%20pubn/ftest.asp?rept_id=469&type=NSSO surveys


COMMUNITIES

Castes that are considered backward in some states may be considered as forward in other states. For example, Khatri s are a forward caste in almost all Indian states except Tamil Nadu . Jat s are considered backward only in Rajastan . The current Prime Minister Of India , Manmohan Singh , a Khatri , would be considered as backward caste if he moved to the southern state of Tamil Nadu . Similarly, the Indian Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram , who is from the Nagarathar community would be considered backward if he moved to Kerala.



Castes considered forward everywhere



Castes considered backward in some regions and forward in other regions


  • Mahida, Solanki: So called rajputs in Gujarat

  • Kumhar (Prajapati, Kumawat) in Gujarat, Rajasthan and elsewhere

  • Vishvakarmas are considered as forward in Maharashtra and many other States in India, but they come under OBC in bihar, UP and Other North Indian States.

  • Banias (caste) of Bihar are listed in OBC list {Link without Title} . See Sl No 119

  • Karuneegar s, who are scribes by profession like Kayasthas of North India, are considered backward in Tamil Nadu.

  • Boyar a warrior caste mainly found in South India, They are considered as Forward Caste in Andhra Pradesh but Backward caste in Tamil Nadu as Boya and in Karnataka as Bhovi.

  • Nagarathar Chettiar mainly found in Tamil Nadu. They are considered as Forward Caste in Tamil Nadu but Backward caste in Kerala and Pondichery. Kerala Government Website .

  • . {Link without Title}

  • Dhangar s are Kshatriyas, in Maharashtra they are OBC but in Karnataka they are in Open Category.

  • Patwas are Vaishya, in few region they fall in OBC.

  • Jats forward in Punjab , Haryana and backward in Uttar Pradesh , and Gujarat/Rajastan

  • Kurmi/Kunbi are forward in Gujarat and OBC in UP, MP, Bihar and Rajasthan



Other religious people who are not eligible for Reservation benefits

The following proportion of other religious(Non-Hindus) people are not eligible for reservations benefits: Sachar committee report .

  • 59% of ''. Retrieved on November 27 2006 . All Muslims are considered backward in Kerala, and separate reservation is provided for them. Most of the Muslims living in south Indian states have been classified as backward.

  • 33% of Christians . In South Indian states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala and even Goa, many Christians follow a Hindu caste pattern.

    • An example are Kerala's Syrian Christians who follow Syriac Christianity and are believed to be converted from caste Hindus, Brahmins and Jews, and are descendants of the maritime trade syndicate that had links with Kerala from time immemorial. Other examples include different groups and denominations within Nasrani People who also fall in the unreserved category.

Goan Catholics follow a caste system which generally comes into play when choosing marriage partners.
Christian Nadars are a backward caste in these regions.
Other Christians like Latin Catholics, supposedly converted from the fishermen in the Kerala coast by the Jesuits, have been included
in the list of backward castes in states like Tamilnadu & Kerala. classes/tamilnadu.html .[http://ncbc.nic.in/backward-classes/kerala.html]


POPULATION

Many Political leaders who support Reservation for Backward classes like Mr. Karunanidhi, Dr. Udit Raj, Mr. Ramadoss, etc. estimate the forward classes population as anywhere from 5-15%. The Hindu [http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/may/16inter2.htm] However, they have not quoted sources for their estimations. National sample survey estimates Forward Caste population almost same as Backward Classes at around 36%. Family health survey combined forward classes population along with all communities of other religions. If you exclude Backward castes of other religions, then it is around 38.6% which is more than Backward castes population. State wise Forward Caste Population can be found from the chart.


ECONOMIC AND EDUCATIONAL STATUS



The Government of India does not collect community census data except for SC/ST. Economic and educational level of various social groups are gauged using large sample surveys. The National Sample Survey taken in 1999–2000 and the National Family Health Survey taken in 2005-2006 (or perhaps an earlier round of the NFHS) estimated economic, educational, and health indicators of various communities. These surveys were used extensively in the report submitted by the oversight committee. MOSPI.NIC.IN

Forward classes will have to compete only in the open category, as they are considered socially, educationally, and economically advanced. Currently the reservation proportion stands at 50% in central-government educational institutions and central-government jobs. However, in certain states such as Tamil Nadu, the reservation percentage stands at around 69%. {Link without Title}


Economic status

The 1998–1999 National Sample Survey calculated the economic status of forward communities separately for rural/urban areas in various income brackets. It shows
  • Only 6.4% of forward classes in rural areas appear in upper income bracket with per capita monthly income stands at above Rs 925 per month.

  • 30% of rural population is made up of forward classes.

  • More than 65% of forward classes per capita income stands below Rs 525 per month.


For urban areas:
  • Only 5.6% of forward classes appear in the upper-income bracket with per capita income at or above Rs. 1925 per month (around US $40).

  • More than 25% of forward classes per capita income stands below Rs. 500 per month (around $10)



Educational status


  • --- More than 30% of forward classes above 15 years of age are illiterate.

  • --- Only 8% of forward classes are graduates.

  • --- Around 85% of forward classes above 15 years of age have done equal to or below secondary Education (10 Years of Education)



RESERVATION FOR ECONOMICALLY BACKWARD AMONG FORWARD CLASSES

Currently forward classes are only allowed to compete for seats in the unreserved category in educational institutions and central government jobs, irrespective of their educational/economical status in the society. However, a significant percentage of the Forward Caste population lives below the poverty line and more than 30% of the members of this community are illiterate. To meet their aspirations, demands have been raised for providing separate reservations for the poor among Forward Caste populations. Many political parties like Congress, BJP, Samajwadi Party, LJP, Rastriya Janata Dal, Communist Party of India(Marxist), Bahujan Samaj Party ExspressIndia.com Link 01 ExpressIndia.com Link 02 [http://www.hinduonnet.com/2006/06/05/stories/2006060504941400.htm][http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/08/14/stories/2003081403450900.htm] have supported proposals for providing separate reservation for the poor among the forward classes. These parties acoount of over 400 of the 542 members in the current parliament, as well as holding power in most states in the union.


Timeline


  • 1991: Congress Government headed by Narasimha Rao introduced 10% separate reservation for poor among forward classes.

  • 1992: The Supreme court has ruled in the Indra Sawhney case that separate reservation for poor among forward classes as invalid. Government has withdrawn separate reservation as per supreme court judgement.(Many other verdicts given in same case has been overruled by constitutional amendments like quota in promotions, Exceeding 50% reservations for Tamilnadu, Judgement regarding creamy layer in the same case was not implemented by Tamilnadu so far.)

  • 2003: BJP Government appointed Group of Ministers for suggesting measures for implementation of separate reservation for poor among forward classes. {Link without Title}

  • 2004: Task force has been setup to work out modalities for providing reservations to Poor among forward classes.No information available regarding report submitted by this task force. {Link without Title}

  • 2006: Present Congress Government appointed commission to study separate reservation for economically backward classes. {Link without Title}

  • 2006: Communist government in Kerala earmarked 12% seats in private professional colleges for economically poor among forward classes. {Link without Title}



COMPARISON WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES


Many backward class leaders allege forward classes are over represented in many spheres of life. State and central governments have not released adequate data regarding representation of various communities in their services and admissions to educational institutions.Most of the Private companies in India does not collect data regarding community of their employees.Very few reports are available regarding representation of various communities in Public/Private services and admissions in educational institutions.

  • In Tamil Nadu forward classes have secured around 1.9% of seats in Medical colleges in 2004 and 2.68 % seats in 2005 as against their population percentage of 13%.See Also Caste Based Reservations In Tamil Nadu . This trend of poor representation has continued for the last 10 years as claimed by lawyers in one of the Reservation cases. {Link without Title}

  • --- Narendra committee report in Kerala has pointed out that forward classes representation in Public services and PSU units is around 36 to 38% which is more or less equal to their population. {Link without Title} .

  • --- Karnataka Minister in state Assembly has announced that per capita income of the Brahmins is lesser than all communities including scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. {Link without Title}

  • --- Oversight committee in its final report has indicated that forward classes are placed better than Backward castes in some indicators and comparable with Backward castes in few indicators and backward castes are superior in some parameters like Health indicators in states like Assam, Maharastra, Haryana, West Bengal, etc. {Link without Title}

  • --- National Survey 99-00 indicates that forward classes are better placed than SC/ST in almost all parameters. However, in rural unemployment,forward classes score worser than all other communities.

  • --- Recently released Provisional report of National Survey 04-05 states that Buying capacity of Backward Classes in rural and urban areas are comparable to forward classes. It also revises Backward classes figure as 41%. It also states that Landownership of Backward classes are comparable to Forward Classes. It reiterates its earlier finding(in 99-00 survey) that forward classes are poorly employed(More unemployment). {Link without Title}



  • --- National surveys used rural landholding pattern to assess wealthiness of various social groups. Its findings indicate that OBC and FC are comparable and there is a very minor difference between them. There is a big difference between OBC/FC and SC. Even Scheduled Tribes are placed better than Scheduled Castes. Experts who analysed National survey results point out that other backward classes are near average in many parameters.Please refer chart. {Link without Title}



SHRINKING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

During April 2006, India’s Human Resource Minister announced that 27% seats will be reserved exclusively for candidates from Other Backward Classes in addition to existing 22.5 % reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. This announcement was done when polling process was underway in Tamilnadu and Kerala (States with highest backward caste population in India).[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:StatewiseBC.jpg Incidentally many opinion polls at that time were predicting rout of ruling UDF alliance in these states. alliance subsequently won in Tamilnadu but lost in Kerala). Election commission reprimanded Human Resources Ministry for making such announcement when election process was in progress.[http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache:97_AiaCG184J:eci.gov.in/ElectoralLaws/OrdersNotifications/order_Arjun_Singh_10052006.pdf+Central+Institutions+Arjun+Singh&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5


Impact of announcement on forward classes


After the implementation of OBC reservation, only 50% of seats are available in open competition. All communities can compete in open competition which means forward classes must secure between 72% and 78% of the 'open competition' seats in order to maintain their representation in keeping with their estimated population of 36-39%, whereas other communities will get major chunk of seats through exclusive reservations. This has resulted in protests from Forward Caste community members and supporters from other communities under the banner of Youth For Equality . The following have pointed to as being the main reasons for the protests. {Link without Title}

  • ---The Government has implemented reservations for the Scheduled castes and Scheduled Tribes for the last 60 years, however the social and economic situation of these groups has not shown much improvement. This might be interpreted as an indication of the ineffectiveness of reservation in higher educational institutions as a means of achieving social equality.

  • ---Any difference between proportion of different communities in Higher educational institutions is mainly because of difference in primary school enrollment. (This fact was also confirmed in National sample surveys and pointed out by Oversight committee in its final report). Government should attack the cause instead of providing reservation at higher education level

  • ---Already 24% of college seats are with Other backward classes. Providing another 27% seats will deprive chances of forward classes.

  • ---Reservation on the basis of caste is cornered only by rich and affluent. For example daughter of former President of India got admission into Indian Foreign Services denying opportunity to another poor person from her own community.



Interestingly Government of India decided to introduce 27% reservations for other backward classes all over India. Many states does not have even 27% of other backward class population as per national sample surveys.(This includes major Indian states like Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Punjab, West Bengal). Indian states like Assam, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal has more than 50% forward classes population [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:StatewiseFC.jpg which means no. of seats secured by forward classes will not be equal to their population proportion even if they secure 100% seats in open competition in central government institutions of these states. Central government, however, excluded 27% reservations to other backward classes to the areas with high tribal populations.[http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/aug/30quota.htm].


REFERENCES