Bhubaneswar, 3rd Nov 2025: A strong demand has been raised to include the Khandayat community in the Central Other Backward Classes (OBC) list during the Odisha visit of Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Chairman of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).
State BJP spokesperson and president of Yuva Odisha, Tejeswar Parida, met NCBC Chairman Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, along with Commission Member Bhuban Bhushan Kamal and Secretary Meeta Rajeev Lochan, at the State Guest House and submitted the demand.
On this occasion, Tejeswar Parida said that the Khandayat community is currently recognized under the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) category in Odisha but is not included in the Central OBC list. Therefore, he urged that the Khandayat community be included in the Central OBC list.
During the hearing held on Wednesday at the State Guest House, representatives from various communities and groups met the NCBC Chairman and submitted their demands to have their respective communities recognized as backward classes.
Leaders from political parties including the BJP, BJD, and Congress also met the NCBC delegation to press their respective demands. Representatives of more than 50 different castes and communities have submitted memoranda requesting inclusion in the national backward class list.
The NCBC will continue its public hearing (jan sunwani) at the State Guest House today as well. Chairman Hansraj Gangaram Ahir stated that steps will be taken to include eligible communities that are yet to be recognized as backward classes. The Commission will also review and deliberate upon the report to be submitted by the State Government regarding this matter.
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