Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata (SHP)
Kolkata, Jul 17: In a notification released by state government of West Bengal, members of the families who have gross annual income below Rs 8 lac will be able to avail certain percentage of reservation on a preferential basis in civil posts and services in West Bengal.
Individuals who do not fall under reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes will be able to avail 10 per cent reservation in civil posts and services of the state government. They will also be able to gain admissions in educational institutions.
The notification read as, 'Gross annual family income should be below Rs 8 lac and the income shall also include the income from all sources — salary, agriculture, business, profession, for the final year prior to the year of application.' It was issued on July 9, six days after the Mamata Banerjee government announced 10 per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for the economically weaker sections in the general category.
The decision of the West Bengal government came six months after the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre approved a similar proposal. The notification in the matter stated that if a person’s family does not own or possess five acre of agricultural land and above, or own a residential flat of 1,000 sq ft and above, along with those who do not possess a residential plot of 100 square yards and above in notified municipalities, will be eligible for 10 per cent reservation. Besides, an individual who does not possess a residential plot of 200 square yards and above in areas other than notified municipalities, will also be eligible for the same.
'The property held by a family in different locations would be clubbed together for determining Economically Weaker Section (EWS) status', the notification stated. It also mentioned that the benefit of the reservation under the EWS would be only provided once an income and asset certificate is issued by the district magistrate, additional district magistrate, sub-divisional officer or the DWO for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation areas.