CG first in India to make an Act for caste certificate

House passes bill to protect rights of SC, ST, OBC categories unanimously

Govt makes provision of punishment for fake certificate makers

students of class IX, XII to get permanent caste certificates

Raipur, March 20, 2013

Chhattisgarh has become first state in country to make an Act for caste certificate. This Act has not only simplified procedures to make caste certificate for scheduled caste SC), scheduled tribe (ST) and other backward class (OBC) categories, but also makes a provision of punishment for fake certificate makers. In this connection, the state assembly unanimously passed Chhattisgarh SC, ST and OBC (Regulation for Certification of Social Status) Bill 2013 on Wednesday.

Health minister Amar Agrawal, who tabled the bill in absence of chief minister Raman Singh, said the Act would be first in the country to protect the rights of SC, ST and OBC categories. 

He informed the House that once a candidate would give application to obtain caste certificate, his application would be considered under Public Service Guarantee Act and he would get temporary certificate within one month.

He announced that the students of class IX and XII would get permanent caste certificates to pursue their higher studies. He informed that the insulting words being used for some castes too had been replaced.

He further informed that the state government had also sent a proposal to Centre to remove typographical errors of 12 castes pointing that the people of those castes were not getting reservation benefits. 

“We have sent the proposal to provide right to the people of 12 castes they deserve,” he told.  

He said Chhattisgarh had been adopting rules format of undivided Madhya Pradesh since it became state in November 2000. Pointing that large population of Chhattisgarh belonged to SC, ST and OBC categories, he said such people always require caste certificate to take admission in educational institutes, apply for jobs and contest elections under reserved category.

“The people under these categories face several problems in getting certificates while the ineligible ones make fake certificates to take benefit of the quota system. By far, neither Centre nor any state has made any Act in this regard. Now, with an Act coming into existence in state, not only the SC, ST and OBC people will easily get caste certificates, but action too would be taken against fake certificate makers,” Agrawal said.

What opposition MLAs said..

Participating in debate over the bill, Congress MLA Tamradhwaj Sahu said according to new Act procedures to make caste certificate would take ample time and it should be simplified. “Let schools mention caste as well as class of a child when he takes admission. Then, there will be no need to take certificate from Collector or SDM,” he said. He further hailed the provision of imprisonment from three months to two years in the bill for fake certificate makers and receivers.

Congress MLA Premsai Singh Tekam said caste certificates should be made on the basis of school certificates where caste of a student is mention. Pointing that about 400 government officials and employees were facing charge of obtaining job by producing fake caste certificate, he demanded quick action against them.

Congress legislator Ambika Markam termed the bill as good initiative for SC, ST and OBC categories. Advocating for simplification of caste certificate making procedures, she asked the government to remove typographical errors of some castes to give reservation benefit to the people of those categories.

Congress MLA Lekhram Sahu said landless people face problem in obtaining caste certificate. “It is very difficult to get a certificate without giving bribe,” he said.

“The caste certificate should be made at village level after approval of panchayat. This will not only be convenient for the applicants but also the bribery tradition will stop,” he said.

Congress MLA Dr Renu Jogi said the bill should not just become a poll weapon for the ruling party and people should get benefits from its provisions. She pointed that the Baiga tribes face problem in getting caste certificate as they fail to produce misal record.

BSP legislator Doojram Boudh said the talented students could not pursue their higher studies because they do not get caste certificate timely. He suggested to implement ancient varna system and provide certificates on that basis. He said nobody knows how much harassment a person faces due to the caste he belongs to. 

Congress MLA Amarjeet Bhagat said applicants should not be harassed when they seek caste certificate. He demanded provision of punishment for those who obtain caste certificate by giving false affidavit.

Congress MLA Dr Shiv Kumar Daharia asked the government to ensure that the bill may not violate Constitutional rules. Congress legislator Pratima Chandrakar pointed that the outsiders too were taking benefit of reservation by obtaining caste certificate in state. Congress MLA TS Singhdeo said the punishment period for fake caste certificate receivers should be more than two years so that they may not contest polls.