JAMMU, Aug 24: The Dogra Brahman Pratinidhi Sabha (DBPS) on Monday called for a review of the existing caste-based reservation system, urging the government to give greater consideration to economic backwardness and merit while framing policies on reservation and welfare benefits.
Interacting with media persons, DBPS President Ved Parkash Sharma said economic disadvantage should be given greater weightage in determining access to government support and benefits. He called for a review of reservation policies and suggested greater support for economically weaker sections.
Former Deputy Commissioner B.S. Jamwal, DBPS Chairman and former Additional Advocate General Advocate P.C. Sharma, Bawa Bhair Dev Sathan Trust General Secretary Ramesh Sharma and representatives of various religious and social organisations were also present.
The speakers argued that financial circumstances should be considered while deciding eligibility for government assistance, including support for education, coaching and scholarships. They said a financially disadvantaged person should receive appropriate assistance irrespective of caste.
The Sabha representatives said social and economic circumstances had changed considerably over the decades and called for a wider public discussion on whether the existing reservation framework requires review. They advocated measures to address economic disadvantage without discrimination and sought greater benefits for people classified as economically weaker sections.
The representatives also demanded a white paper on the outcomes of reservation policies and called for establishing minimum qualifying standards for educational admissions. They further suggested introducing quota-within-quota mechanisms to ensure that benefits reach the most marginalised sections effectively.
Among those present were Tawi Andolan Chief Advocate Chander Mohan Sharma, N.C. Sharma, M.L. Sharma, former JMC Commissioner Saujanya Sharma, Subash Shastri, Jagan Nath Sharma, K.L. Sharma, M.L. Padha, Ritiz Khajuria, Barita Ram, Rakesh Sharma, Sunil Sharma, Shiv Ram Sharma, Davinder Sharma, Gurdass Sharma, Raman Sharma, Prem Balotra, Sanjiv Kerni, Kewal Krishan Sharma, Vijay Sharma and others.