Uttarakhand Set to Grant 10% Job Reservation to Statehood Movement Activists and Their Dependents

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Dhami

In a significant development, the select committee of the Uttarakhand state assembly handed over its draft report on the statehood activist reservation bill to Speaker Ritu Bhushan Khanduri last Thursday. This news comes as a relief for the statehood agitators, known as "Rajya Andolankari" in Uttarakhand. The primary challenge for the state government was defining the eligible family members of statehood agitators who would benefit from the horizontal reservation.

Back in 2004, the N D Tewari government had granted jobs to approximately 1,700 statehood agitators and their dependents via a government order. However, these appointments were later nullified by the high court. March of this year saw the state cabinet approving a proposal to provide 10% horizontal reservation to statehood activists and their dependents—a decision of political significance as the cabinet meeting was held at Bhararisain (Gairsain), the epicenter of the statehood agitation.

Bill Introduced and Committee Formation

The bill, titled 'The Uttarakhand Reservation in Government Services for the Identified Andolankari of Uttarakhand Movement and Their Dependents Bill, 2023,' was introduced in the Uttarakhand assembly in September. Due to the complexity of the matter, the bill was referred to a select committee for a thorough examination. Sources indicate that the committee has diligently studied the bill from various angles, addressing potential legal hurdles in implementing the proposed 10% horizontal reservation.

Bipartisan Support and Committee's Extension

Both the ruling BJP and the main opposition Congress express unanimous support for the 10% horizontal reservation for statehood agitators. However, both parties stress the need to address existing gaps for effective implementation. The select committee, led by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prem Chandra Agarwal and including BJP MLAs Munna Singh Chauhan and Vinod Chamoli, has completed its examination. Committee member Munna Singh Chauhan mentions, "The report is likely to be tabled in the house in the next session of the assembly."