In Dasturabad village of Nirmal district , a controversy has erupted over the reservation of the Sarpanch post for Scheduled Castes (SCs). Villagers have raised objections, stating that the reservation is inappropriate because there are no SC residents in the village.
According to local sources, out of more than 500 voters, only four belong to Scheduled Tribes (STs), while the vast majority are from the Backward Classes (BCs). Despite this demographic reality, the Sarpanch seat has been designated as SC-reserved, leading to confusion and dissatisfaction among the villagers.
In protest, residents staged a dharna yesterday, demanding a reconsideration of the reservation policy to reflect the actual population distribution. They argued that reserving the post for SCs in a predominantly BC village undermines democratic representation and prevents the local community from electing a leader from their majority group. Authorities are expected to review the situation to resolve the conflict fairly.
