Jaipur, Aug 10 (IANS) Ahead of the upcoming Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Body elections in Rajasthan, the detailed survey report of the Rajasthan Other Backward Classes (Political Representation) Commission has been released.
The Commission, headed by retired Justice Madanlal Bhati, conducted a comprehensive social, economic and political survey covering 92 OBC communities, including five communities classified under the Most Backward Classes (MBC) category. According to the Commission’s findings, the total OBC population in Rajasthan is more than 3.63 crore (36.3 million).
The survey provides extensive data on population distribution, government employment, self-employment, labour participation and political representation among different OBC communities.
One of the key findings of the report is that seven communities together account for 55.14 per cent of the total OBC population. The top seven communities together account for 55.14 per cent of the population share. Jats and Jat Sikhs form the largest community at 20.14 per cent, followed by Gurjars at 9.11 per cent, Kumhars and Kumawats at 8.36 per cent, and Malis, Sainis and Baghwans at 7.80 per cent. Jangid/Suthars represent 3.49 per cent, Yadavs/Ahirs 3.22 per cent, and Mevs 3.02 per cent. Collectively, these seven communities constitute more than half of the total population share. The Jat and Jat Sikh communities constitute the largest population group among the OBC communities surveyed, followed by Gurjar, Kumhar-Kumawat, Mali-Saini, Jangid, Yadav and Mev communities.
The survey also highlights significant differences in representation in government employment.
Rajasthan has approximately 3.92 lakh OBC government employees, according to the report. The findings indicate that Jat, Gurjar, Saini and Yadav communities together account for approximately 78 per cent of OBC government employees. At the same time, 18 OBC communities have fewer than 100 members each in government service. These figures underline the need to examine representation not merely on the basis of population, but also in the context of social, economic and political participation. The report states that approximately 12.50 lakh people belonging to OBC communities are engaged in self-employment.
Among the major communities, the reported self-employment figures include: Kumhar-Kumawat: 1.24 lakh; Jat: 1.21 lakh; Mali-Saini: 1.15 lakh; and Jangid: 85,114.
The survey also records substantial participation of OBC communities in the labour and daily-wage sectors. Kumhar-Kumawat and Saini communities have significant representation in this category.
The survey provides detailed demographic information on the OBC population. According to the report, the male population stands at 1,87,50,094 (52.23 per cent); and the female population is 1,71,05,082 (47.76 per cent); the sex ratio is 914 females per 1,000 males.
The Commission’s report is particularly significant in the context of political representation. Prepared in accordance with the Supreme Court’s triple test framework, the findings are expected to provide an important basis for determining OBC reservation in Rajasthan’s Panchayati Raj institutions and Urban Local Bodies.
The survey demonstrates that the OBC category comprises communities with substantially different levels of population, economic participation, government employment and political representation.
The report therefore highlights the importance of ensuring that communities with historically limited political and economic participation are not left behind.
The comprehensive survey provides an important statistical foundation for understanding the social and economic diversity within Rajasthan’s OBC population.
Its findings reinforce the need for equitable political representation, equal opportunities and targeted policy intervention for communities that have remained comparatively underrepresented in public institutions and government services.
As Rajasthan moves towards the upcoming Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Body elections, the Commission’s findings are expected to have significant implications for the reservation process and for strengthening inclusive representation at the grassroots level, said officials.
The report marks an important step towards evidence-based policymaking and ensuring that the principles of social justice and equitable representation are reflected in Rajasthan’s democratic institutions, they added.
–IANS
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