Recruitment of OBCs to be fast-tracked

The Union Cabinet and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Thursday approved a slew of social sector initiatives, including treating the backlog of reserved vacancies of other backward classes (OBCs) as a distinct group not subject to the limit of 50 per cent reservation in a year.

The CCEA approved revisions in a scheme for capital investment subsidy for construction or renovation of rural godown during the 11th Plan with a total outlay of Rs 450 crore (rs 4.5 billion).

The

revised scheme will help creating scientific storage capacity with allied facilities in rural areas to meet the requirements of farmers for storing farm produce, processed farm produce and agricultural inputs.

The scheme will also help in promotion of grading, standardisation and quality control of agricultural produce to improve their marketability; prevention of distress sale immediately after harvest by providing the facility of pledge financing and marketing credit.