Ranchi: The state cabinet on Thursday approved the proposal to simplify the verification process of caste certificates for OBCs. The department of personnel, administrative reforms and rajbhasha put up the proposal after many Other Backward Class (OBC) certificate seekers complained of complex process in the existing one.Led by chief minister Raghubar Das, the 11-member ministerial council vested powers on the circle officers (CO) to validate caste certificates.Earlier, OBC candidates applying for vacancies in government services were required to get their caste certificates verified at different levels, beginning with COs and up to sub-divisional magistrates.Speaking to reporters after the meeting, additional chief secretary K K Khandelwal of the department said the cabinet also gave non-creamy layer OBCs a breather by relaxing the norms of tri-annual income disclosure, which has to be submitted every year to renew OBC status.“Earlier, the non-creamy-layer OBCs were required to get their certificates validated every year by submitting their annual incomes of three financial years. Now, they can get their certificates by providing a self-declaration,” he said.Khandelwal also added that the cabinet re-defined the clauses that enable SCs and STs from other states to enjoy reservation benefits in Jharkhand.“They will only be accorded SC or ST status if their caste and tribe are listed in the schedule here. Another factor will be the year they took up residence in the state. Reservation status will not be accorded to OBCs who are residing here after November 10, 1978. Likewise, SCs residing here after August 10, 1950 and STs settled here after September 6, 1950 will not enjoy the reservation benefits,” Khandelwal said.The cabinet also gave administrative approval for implementing Mukhyamantri Jan Jal Yojana and sanctioned Rs 510.56 crore to provide piped drinking water supply to 10,726 SC and ST tolas (settlements).The ministerial council also approved Rs 47. 71 crore for the urban drinking water supply project for Hussainabad in Palamu . Another piped water supply project for Vasukinath in Deoghar likely to cost Rs 92.90 crore was also approved.The construction and strengthening of 15 roads in 10 districts, stretching 320 kilometres at an estimated cost of Rs 1,258 crore, also got the cabinet’s nod. The mining lease of Uranium Corporation of India Limited for a 1,128-acre plot in East Singbhum was extended.The cabinet also amended the Jharkhand Shops and Establishments Act of 2001 to waive off the provision which mandated registered shop-owners to renew their registrations every 10 years.“The registrations will be valid till the time the shops operate,” cabinet secretary SKG Rahate said. In all, 37 proposals were approved by the cabinet.

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