17 most backward castes of Uttar Pradesh will get scheduled caste status

Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha passed a resolution asking the Centre to include 17 most backward castes of the state into the list of Scheduled Castes (SC) category.

In the resolution presented by state Social Welfare Minister Avdhesh Prasad and passed by the voice vote, it was stated that in a detailed study by UP SC/ST research and training institute, these 17 castes have been found deserving to be included in the list of Scheduled Castes (SC).

According to the study, the castes- 'kahar', 'kashyap','kewat', 'mallah', 'nishad','kumhar', 'prajapati', 'dheevar','bind', 'bhar', 'rajbhar', 'dheemar', 'batham', 'turha', 'godia', 'manjhi' and 'machua' are deserving to be included in the list.

The Samajwadi Party government led by Mulayam Singh Yadav had also initiated a move for the inclusion of these castes in the list.

As per article 341 of the Constitution, Parliament has to pass a resolution for inclusion of any caste in the Scheduled Castes list and the state legislature can only make a recommendation in this regard.