The Assam State Cabinet modified the rules for issuing Economically Weaker Section certificate. Under the new rules, people residing in rural areas possessing not more than 30 bighas of land and having an income of less than Rs 8 lakh will be eligible to get the EWS certificate.
Member of Assam legislative Assembly, Jayanta Malla Baruah said, addressing to the cabinet decision “There is 10 per reservation for the Economically Weaker Section in government jobs, educational institutions etc. However, due to some strict criteria, many eligible people, especially from Assam, face difficulties in getting EWS certificates. The Cabinet has relaxed some eligibility criteria.”
Earlier, the land criteria were 15 bighas or less. Now, In urban areas people having less than 2 bighas and with an annual income of less than Rs 8 lakh will get an EWS certificate.
In cities, the criteria will be 8,640 sq ft land, 2,000 sq ft house (built up area) and income of less than Rs 8 lakh.
The Cabinet also approved the revised State Action Plan on Climate Change for 2021- 2030 in an effort to address the concerns of climate change.
According to 103rd Constitution Amendment Act, It provides for 10% reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for the economically weaker section in the unreserved category. The Act amends Article 15 and 16 to provide for reservation based on economic backwardness.
For the purposes of this article 15 and article 16, “economically weaker sections” to be notified by the State from time to time on the basis of family income and other indicators of economic disadvantage.
Originally the constitution stand on reservation- Article 15(4)-The State can make any special provision for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.
