Help sought in setting up research centre on backward classes

Updated on: Thursday, August 25, 2011

The West Bengal government has proposed to the Centre to help it set up a centre of excellence dedicated to reserch on backward classes.

Replying to a debate on budgetary grants of Rs 681 crore for the Backward Classes Welfare Department of which he is the minister in charge, Upendranath Biswas said he had sent a proposal to the Centre to help set up the centre at a cost of approximately Rs 100 crore to conduct extensive research work on backward classes.

Biswas said the Centre has shown a very positive response and if it sanctions a grant the centre of excellence, to be christened Ambedkar Centre for Excellence, would be set up.

The centre would in future open branches in the districts, he said, Biswas said.

Biswas said he had started 'Krishi Sramik Kalyan Kendra' (Agricultural Worker Welfare Centre)- the first of its kind in the country in Bagda constituency in North 24-Parganas district where farmers will be given soft loans for starting business.

The minister said that 68 per cent of the state's population comprise backward classes of which 23.5 per cent belong to SC, 5.5 per cent to ST and another 29 per cent to OBC.

Help sought in setting up research centre on backward classes

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