TN CM's plea for Reservation, Women's Bill

New Delhi, Dec 9 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today urged the Centre to implement Reservation for Backward Classes in all Central Government jobs and higher educational institutions without any dilution, at one go.

In his address at the NDC meeting, he also wanted the Centre to pass the Women's Reservation Bill as it was already overdue.

''It will be befitting if the legislation on Reservation for women is passed during the period when Ms Sonia Gandhi is the Chairperson of the UPA'', he said and appealed to all political parties to arrive at consensus early.

Ensuring Social Justice and Empowerment of Women will pave the way for realising the objectives of the Plan and for the benefits of the Plan Expenditure to reach the poor and downtrodden, he added.

Recalling that Tamil Nadu was the birth place of Social Justice when the then Justice party issued the first Communal Government Order for Reservation in jobs 85 years back, Mr Karunanidhi said Reservation in Government services and educational institutions for Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has been under implementation in Tamil Nadu for a very long time and it had reached 69 per cent now.

Though two Commissions were appointed and 70 per cent of the population were Backward Classes, a mere 27 per cent Reservation was recommended, Mr Karunanidhi said.

He favoured implementation of Reservation in Central government jobs and higher educational institutions without any dilution and at one go.

He also recalled the letters written by him to all Chief Ministers urging them to provide Reservation for OBCs in their respective states according to their population and the flexibility to fix Reservation for OBCs be given to respective states.

Highlighting the various welfare measues taken by his government for the social and economic uplift of women, Mr Karunanidhi sought central assistance for the schemes for implementing them on a massive scale.

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