DMK MP P Wilson recently criticized the Union Government in Rajya Sabha. He highlighted the failure to revise the income ceiling for the Other Backward Classes (OBC) creamy layer. Wilson alleged outdated rules exclude OBC candidates from government jobs and faculty positions.
The OBC creamy layer income ceiling remains at Rs 8 lakh per annum since 2017 . This amount has not changed despite high inflation and rising living costs. The National Commission for Backward Classes recommended increasing this ceiling. They also suggested revisions every three years. The government has not acted on these recommendations.
Creamy Layer Calculation Allegations
Wilson blamed the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and other institutions for discriminatory practices. He stated they include salary and agricultural income when calculating a candidate’s “family income.” This inclusion determines creamy layer status. However, a 1993 Office Memorandum advises excluding these incomes. The OBC Parliamentary Committee condemned this practice in its 2019 report . The Committee urged the government to stop it immediately, but no action followed.
Low OBC Faculty Representation
Wilson highlighted significant vacancies for OBC faculty in central universities. Around 80 percent of OBC professor positions remain unfilled. Out of 2,537 sanctioned professor posts, only 423 (16.67 percent) are held by OBC individuals. This falls below the constitutionally mandated 27 percent reservation.
Citing Right to Information (RTI) data, Wilson provided specific figures for top institutions:
| Category | IITs (21 institutions) | IIMs (13 institutions) |
|---|---|---|
| OBC | 11.2% | 9.6% |
| SC | 6% | 5% |
| ST | 1.6% | 1% |
He noted stark disparities in faculty composition. In at least two IITs and three IIMs , General Category faculty hold over 90 percent of positions. Over 80 percent of faculty in eight IITs and seven IIMs are from the General Category. Wilson questioned if these were “exclusive clubs” rather than diverse educational institutions.
OBC Representation in Government Services
The low representation extends to government services. OBC individuals make up only 18.07 percent of the current Group A officers batch. Among 90 top bureaucrats in the Union Government, only three are from the OBC community. These three also hold less prominent departments, according to Wilson.
Data from the Central Staffing Scheme reveals similar trends. Out of 322 officers in different ministries:
- 16 belong to SC.
- 13 belong to ST.
- 39 belong to OBC.
- 254 belong to upper castes.
Wilson Urges Prime Minister Modi
Wilson urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene. He called for an immediate revision of the income ceiling. He also demanded an end to discriminatory practices in creamy layer determination. Wilson asked the government to fill the backlog of reserved posts without delay. He further suggested increasing reservations for OBC, SC, and ST communities through constitutional amendments, proportional to their population.