27/11/2025
Former Union Minister Shri Srikant Jena congratulates the people of Tamil Nadu for yet again safeguarding the cause of Social Justice by protecting their reservation policy through inclusion in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution.
Tamil Nadu has shown that when a State stands united, it can secure the rights of its people within the constitutional framework.
At the same time, Odisha too is a special case.
During the Constituent Assembly Debates, Odisha was officially recognised as a backward state due to deep historical deprivation, socio-economic lag, and the large presence of marginalized communities. Even today, 94% of our population belongs to SC, ST and OBC communities — yet the benefits of social justice remain limited because of the 50% cap.
So, what is our duty?
Our duty is clear:
✔️ To protect the rights of Odisha’s majority marginalized population
✔️ To demand constitutional protection, just like Tamil Nadu, so that our reservation policy reflects ground realities
✔️ To ensure Social Justice is not just a slogan, but a lived reality for every Odia child, youth and family
If Tamil Nadu can secure justice through the 9th Schedule, why should Odisha hesitate?
It is time for Odisha to rise with unity and conviction to claim what the Constitution itself acknowledged decades ago — that Odisha deserves special protection to uplift its people.
