Nearly 50,000 Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe employees in Karnataka are likely to benefit from the Union Cabinet’s decision to clear an amendment bill providing reservation in promotions in Central and state government jobs. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, former social welfare minister, Kagodu Thimmappa, who had headed the cabinet sub-committee on clearing backlog in vacancies between 1999-2003 said, "It is harsh reality that most of the instituions have meted out injustice to SC and ST people by not following the recruitment and reservation policies till 1978. As a result of such delay tactics, all state governments are facing the music now and windfall effect will always be there."
He said the state government took necessary steps between 1999 and 2004 to fill up backlog in vacancies. "As a consequence of our decision, the state government could fill nearly 20,000 vacancies in a phased manner. Such is the windfall effect when we (government) deprive the legitimate rights of a particular community," he said. While Mr Mohammed Sanaulla, principal secretary, department of personnel and administrative reforms, pointed out that though the state government had complied with the reservation policy including promotions upto class ‘B’ cadre, the department was yet to receive details on the latest decision of the cabinet. "We can only react once we have all the details about the cabinet decision. If the Union Cabinet has given a nod for all cadre, then the number will be huge,” he added.