Bengal to set up OBC advisory Council

Kolkata, Dec 21 (IANS) The West Bengal government will set up an Other Backward Class (OBC) Advisory Council to monitor their social, cultural, educational and economic development, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced here on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters after the first meeting of the state Scheduled Caste Advisory Council, she said: "We are the first state in the country to set up this council. Now we will set up a council for the Other Backward Classes."

Banerjee, who presided over the advisory council meeting, called the interaction "positive and fruitful".

"We had a good discussion. So many people gave so many proposals. The community needs to know what all schemes and projects they can avail of. They don't get loans from the bank.

"From now on, the council meeting will be held every six months, an d the development work undertaken for the community's benefit will be reviewed," she said.

Chief Secretary Malay Dey, and West Bengal Backward Classes Welfare Minister Churamani Mahata were among those who attended the deliberations.

Banerjee had in March announced the government's decision to set up the Scheduled Caste Advisory Council, which is slated to function on the lines of the existing tribal advisory council.

There are 66 assembly seats in Bengal reserved for the scheduled caste candidates.

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