Section of general category is extremely poor and not getting any benefits, backward classes will continue to get benefits: CM Vijayan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that a section of the forward class is extremely poor and they are not getting any benefits. The Chief Minister was speaking after inaugurating the economic survey to identify the economically backward sections in the forward classes. The CM said that 50 percent reservation for the backward classes would remain in place and the remaining 50 percent would be implemented in a manner that would give special consideration to the poor in the general category. Pinarayi told the media that this will be a helping hand to the poor in the society and the government does not have an anti-reservation stance.

"There is a section in the state now arguing that they are not getting benefits because of backward reservation. This is not the right trend. It is important to have a living environment for all. The new reservation will be available to the poorest of the poor. The LDF is implementing a policy of uniting the poor from all walks of life in the matter of reservation and those who were trying to divide the people by making reservation an emotional issue are trying to divert the attention of the people from the real issues", the CM said.

The survey envisages identifying and collecting data from five economically disadvantaged families in each ward of the state. It will collect data on about one lakh families.