In a strategic move aimed at garnering support from unreserved farming communities, Congress MP Digvijaya Singh has brought to the forefront the issue of Economic Weaker Section (EWS) reservation relaxation in Parliament. Singh’s plea focuses on revising the EWS criteria, currently restricting those with five acres of land or an annual income of Rs 8 lakh and above.
Farming communities such as Rajputs, Bhumihars, Tyagis, Marathas, Vellalars, Jats, and more have long sought changes in the land and income limits set by the EWS quota.
During the Zero Hour in Parliament, Singh underscored the limitations of the existing EWS reservation conditions, stating they result in minimal representation from unreserved categories.
“The Modi government has provided reservation under EWS to unreserved communities. However, the conditions have led to a thin selection of unreserved category EWS. For example, for one UPSC seat, 1,950 scheduled caste candidates apply, 1,335 scheduled tribe candidates apply, while only 569 apply from the EWS category,” highlighted Digvijaya Singh.
Singh further emphasized the need for age relaxation in EWS reservations, similar to SC, ST, and OBC categories. He urged the adoption of practices followed by states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Haryana, which have relaxed age limits and income criteria.
“While other communities get age relaxation reservations, SC and ST have five years, and OBC has three years of age relaxation. The Economically Weaker Section gets none. Many states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Haryana have relaxed the five-year age limit. I would like to request the government to provide the same across the country,” Singh requested.
The current EWS clause restricts individuals with five acres of land, a residence exceeding 1000 square feet, or an annual income of Rs 8 lakhs.
Digvijaya Singh’s demand received prompt approval from Congress party allies, echoing the sentiment that the existing criteria unfairly target farming and herding communities.
The Ashok Dalwai committee report on “doubling the farmers’ income” highlights that a farmer’s revenue from five acres of land is Rs 1.5 lakh per annum. Sudhakar Singh, RJD MLA, welcomed Singh’s demand, stating the equivalence drawn between uncertain agriculture income and the Rs 8 lakh salary of a salaried individual seems unjust.
Dharmendra Rathore, former minister of Rajasthan, criticized the exclusion of beneficiaries above 1,000 sq ft of residential area, deeming it discriminatory against farming communities.
Singh’s plea aligns with the sentiments of various social organizations advocating for EWS relaxation for youth in the farming community. Rakesh Singh Raghuvanshi, president of Shri Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena, Uttar Pradesh, lauded Singh’s initiative, hoping for swift relaxation in the criteria, particularly for Rajput youths in marginal farming families.
