Daijiworld Media Network – Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 5: The Kerala government on Wednesday decided to include 28 communities in the list of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC), enabling students from these groups to avail reservation and other educational benefits in higher education.

The decision was taken at a state cabinet meeting after accepting the recommendation of the State Backward Classes Commission. According to an official statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the communities were already listed under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category but were not included in the SEBC list, which is crucial for determining eligibility for educational concessions and reservation in higher studies.

Officials said this omission had deprived students from these communities of access to several educational support schemes and benefits for many years.

The existing SEBC list is based on the findings of the Kumara Pillai Commission report of 1965, which identified socially and educationally backward communities eligible for special provisions. The issue of exclusion came to the government’s notice recently, following which a detailed report was sought from the State Backward Classes Commission.

After examining the matter, the commission recommended the inclusion of the 28 communities in the SEBC list, and the cabinet subsequently approved the proposal.

The move is expected to provide students from these communities with improved access to higher education through enhanced financial aid and institutional support. Education experts and community representatives have welcomed the decision, stating that it will help bridge long-standing inequalities and ensure fair access to educational opportunities across the state.

Government sources said the inclusion reflects the state’s commitment to supporting students from socially and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.