Bhandaris in Goa’s OBC list

PANAJI, DEC 16: In what appears to be a move to shore up the support of Goa’s large population of Bhandaris, the Rane government has just issued a notification to include them in the State OBC list. It has also hiked the OBC reservation quota from the present 15 per cent to 30 per cent. The issue of including Bhandaris, the largest community of Hindus in Goa, in the State OBC list had also received the support of the state Opposition parties. This government decision has been seen as an attempt to deflect moves by some politicians to capitalise on the issue in the approaching polls. The demand for inclusion of Bhandaris in the OBC list has claimed a lot of attention in the ongoing session of the Assembly.