Nagpur: The Maharashtra OBC Action Committee, representing 33 other backward classes, has demanded immediate inclusion of 27 communities in the central OBC list, saying a delay in this regard was depriving people from these groups opportunities of higher education and employment, creating a sense of exclusion.At a meeting in Pune on Sunday, representatives from various societies highlighted that students from these communities were being denied admission to premier institutions like IITs, IIMs and AIIMS, and job opportunities in central govt offices. The committee claimed it had made several representations to govt authorities recommending inclusion of various OBC communities, but no progress has been made. On Oct 8, 2024, a detailed report was sent to the secretary, department of social justice, recommending inclusion of 15 OBC communities. A subsequent report covering the remaining 12 communities was sent that Nov 2. A petition submitted by the Badgujar community regarding the 27 groups was forwarded to the social justice ministry on May 16 this year. —Vaibhav Ganjapure
