New Delhi, Jul 3 (UNI) Expressing concern over the denial of reservation to the OBCs under All-India Quota being filled through National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), in state and UT Medical education institutions, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure reservation for OBCs in admission to these institutions.

'Under the All India quota, 15%, 7.5% and 10% seats are reserved for SC, ST and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates respectively, in both Central and State/UT Medical education institutions. However, reservation for OBC candidates under All India Quota is restricted to Central Institutions.
'As per the data compiled by the All India Federation of Other Backward Classes, since 2017, OBC candidates lost over 11,000 seats, in All India Quota, due to non-implementation of OBC reservations in State/UT Medical education institutions. In the interest of equity and social justice, I strongly urge the Union Government to extend reservation for OBC candidates in All India Quota of medical and dental seats, even in the State/UT Medical education institutions,' Ms Gandhi said in a letter to the PM.

She said that the denial of reservations to OBCs in state medical institutions in All India Quota, being administered by the Central Government, violates the very objective of the 93rd Constitutional Amendment and is a barrier to access medical education for deserving backward candidates.

'The 93rd Constitutional Amendment envisages, special provisions for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes in admission to educational institutions including private educational institutions, whether aided or unaided by the State, other than the minority educational institutions,'she said.

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