West Bengal Govt to Give Reservation to Members of Families With Less Than 8 Lakh Annual Income

Kolkata: Members of families with a gross annual income of below Rs 8 lakh will be eligible to avail benefits of reservation on a preferential basis in civil posts and services in West Bengal, according to a state government notification.

People, who are not covered under reservation schemes for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes, will get 10 per cent reservation in direct recruitment in civil posts and services of the state government, and also admissions to educational institutions in the state, it said.

"Gross annual family income should be below of Rs 8 lakh and the income shall also include the income from all sources salary, agriculture, business, profession etc for the final year prior to the year of application," the notification said

Gross annual income is one of the criteria to avail the reservation, it said.

The notification was issued on July 9, six days after the Mamata Banerjee government announced 10 per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for the economically weaker sections (EWS) in the general category.

The decision of the West Bengal government came six months after the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre approved a similar proposal.

The notification stated that a person whose family does not own or possess five acres of agricultural land and above, or own a residential flat of 1,000 sqft and above, would be able to apply for the reservation.

Those who do not possess a residential plot of 100 square yards and above in notified municipalities, would be eligible for the 10 per cent reservation, it said.

Besides, those who do not own a residential plot of 200 square yards and above in areas other than notified municipalities, would also be eligible.

"The property held by a family in different locations would be clubbed together for determining Economically Weaker Section (EWS) status", it stated.

The notification also stated that the benefit of the reservation under the EWS would be availed upon production of an income and asset certificate issued by a district magistrate, additional district magistrate, sub-divisional officer or the DWO for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation areas.