Kolkata: Rajib Banerjee, state minister for Backward Classes Welfare Department, along with Chandrima Bhattacharya, minister of state for Health distributed 1000 OBC certificates at Harijan Basti in South Kolkata on Wednesday.
"This is a great initiative by our Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has thought about the Backward Class people and their future security. These certificates will help the OBC children to get admission in schools and elderly people to get the benefits offered by the state government," said Chandrima Bhattacharya.
SK Thade, principal secretary, Backward Classes Welfare Department, said the response of the people was very encouring and more such camps will be held in south Kolkata. A special camp was organised on Tuesday, by district development office of Kolkata, and Backward Classes Welfare Department for distributing certificates and application form to the Scheduled Caste and other Backward Classes of ward number 86, under Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
After coming to power in 2011, Mamata Banerjee had urged the Backward Classes Welfare department to take special initiative to issue caste certificates among the beneficiaries.
Earlier, people faced enormous problem to get caste certificates and as a result they could not avail various benefits given by the Centre and state government. Camps are being held throughout Bengal to distribute caste certificates. After receiving the applications, certificates are issued within 15 days after making necessary verification.