State okays local quota for Hyderabad-Karnataka region

As much as 75-85 per cent of govt jobs reserved for H-K people

The State government will fix a quota ranging between 75 and 85 per cent for the local population in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region for posts in government organisations.

The government will also reserve 70 per cent of seats in educational institutions as part of its action plan to provide special status under Article 371 (J) of the constitution for the region, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah informed the Assembly on Wednesday.

The quota for the local cadres in districts outside Hyderabad-Karnataka, for both employment and education, has been fixed at 8 per cent, he said while making a statement on the floor of the House.

The Hyderabad-Karnataka region comprises Gulbarga, Yadgir, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal and Bellary districts. Parliament recently passed the Constitution (118th Amendment) Bill, 2012, to insert a new Article—371 (J)—to provide special recognition for the six backward districts.

Cabinet panel

The quota was fixed by a six-member cabinet sub-committee headed by Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil, which was constituted to frame rules for the implementation of Article 371(J) in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region. The State Cabinet recently accepted all the recommendations of the sub-committee.

While 75 per cent of posts belonging to Group A and Group B of the State civil service in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region will be earmarked for the local people, as much as 80 per cent of posts of Group C and 85 per cent of posts in Group D will be earmarked for the local population. There will be proportional reservation in promotions, too, the chief minister said.

Similarly, 70 per cent of the seats available in every course of study in educational institutions or non-state universities in the region will be reserved for the local populace. Eight per cent of the seats in the state pool in districts outside the Hyderabad-Karnataka zone will be reserved for people from the region.

Article 371( J) provides for establishing a separate development board and equitable allocation of funds for development of the Hyderabad-Karnataka region. It also provides for quota in public employment through local cadres and reservation in education and vocational training institutions for those who belong to the region by birth or by domicile.

H-K board on cards

The chief minister said steps would be taken to constitute the Hyderabad-Karnataka Area Development Board. The board, which will have constitutional status, will identify disparities in development in different sectors in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region and suggest the quantum of grants required to bring the region on a par with the rest of the state.

In all, the sub-committee had made 22 recommendations, including providing special grants for educational institutions in the region, incentives for growth of industrial investment, sub-plan for welfare of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes and special programmes for the welfare of women, among others.

No discussion was allowed on the subject by Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa, who said the rules do not permit it.