State Revenue Minister R V Deshpande hails 10% quota for poor

BENGALURU: State Revenue Minister R.V.Deshpande has hailed the Centre’s decision to provide for 10% reservation in educational institutions and in government and
public sector jobs.

“This was a long pending demand, and was under the consideration of most governments. Both the Houses of the Parliament have passed the Bill providing for this reservation which is going to help youngsters coming from low-income families,” he told ET.


Deshpande is a senior Congress minister. Though the Congress has not opposed the new quota, its leaders questioned the Bill when the lok sabha polls are round the corner.

There had always been this concern that any new quota will hurt the existing reservation pattern. But the NDA government has clarified that the new 10% quota will come over and above the quotas fixed for SC/STs and other backward communities, he said.

The only concern, however, was if the new quota Bill will stand the test of law, but Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is confident about it, Deshpande said. “The new quota system will help youngsters from low-income families that are excluded by the existing reservation system,” he added.