Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said that his government would seek a Constitution amendment to ensure 70 per cent reservation for the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes (SC/ST) communities in education and public-sector services.

“The government has conducted a socio-economic survey. After receiving the report, the government will take measures to increase reservation for SC/ST communities from 50 per cent to 70 per cent,’’ Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Reservation would be sought on the lines of Tamil Nadu model, the chief minister said.

He was addressing a dispersed gathering during the Valmiki Jayanti celebrations in Vidhana Soudha, which was disrupted following heavy rains.

Siddaramaiah said that the Supreme Court had directed that reservation should not exceed 50 per cent, and had thereby put a cap on it. The Tamil Nadu reservation was however in contrast to this, as it had fixed reservation for these communities at 69 per cent.

The chief minister said that his government would strive towards making this a reality, as the said communities lacked adequate representation in all spheres.
“I am not doing this for the sake of votes. I am doing this to ensure social justice to the disadvantaged communities,” he said.

Congress government has spent Rs 25,000 crore for the welfare of SC/ST communities in the state during the last four years. “My government has earmarked Rs 7,000 crore for the welfare of the SC/STs for the present financial year,’’ he said.

He has also said that his government would organise a massive SC rally in Ballari in the first week of December and measures would be taken to fulfil the demands of SC/ST communities during the rally.

Earlier, Siddaramaiah unveiled a 12-ft Valmiki statue and a garden, which have been installed between Vidhana Soudha and Legislators’ Home.

MLC VS Ugrappa said that the government would name one of the Metro stations and a varsity after Valmiki.