Backward Classes Development Department

A very well-grown-up demand and dream of the Backward Communities of Kerala was to set up a new and separate Department for the welfare of OBCs in the state. It was strongly recommended in the MANDAL COMMISSION REPORT that Ministries should have to be formed at the state and Central levels. It came true when the Government of Kerala created the same for them in the year 1999, but no further proceedings happened till 2011. It was on 21-11-2011, that the Directorate of the Department formed and started functioning with the then created 10 posts as skeleton staff including the Director. In 2012, a separate administrative wing started functioning in Secretariate. In 2014 May, Govt approved to setting up of two Regional Offices in Ernakulam and Kozhikode by creating 5 posts including Deputy Directors, and then, in addition, approved six more posts including one Deputy Director post in the office of the Director. As a result, the performance of the Department had been boosted up and several new schemes were crafted and implemented.

Department dealt with the issues related to the social, economic, and educational progression of backward communities in Kerala which is more than 83 in number, in the form of planning and implementing multi-angled welfare schemes. Although it is a fact that the overall progression of the state is not proportionally affected by the SC/ST and OBC. The mass of the OBC remains one of the disadvantaged and marginalized sections of society. The department mainly sticks to educational schemes aiming progress of the community in that field. At the same time providing financial assistance to preserve traditional jobs, the Dept also provides assistance to amplify competitive ability and skill development programs by creating innovative schemes.

At present The department implements 13 Plan schemes and 4 Non Plan schemes. Even though the Department has just 26 incumbents overall in the state, with the help of modern technology and co- cooperation of other Departments, Dept productively implements its schemes within the time frame.