Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is also an MP from Sambalpur, has written to National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) Chairman Hansraj Ahir, requesting for the inclusion of 14 communities from Odisha, including the prominent Khandayat caste, in the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

In a post on X, Dharmendra said that castes like Khandayat, Paika, Chasa Paika, Alia, Paikali, Kalingi Shudra Khandayat, Mahanayak Shudra, Oda-Khandayat, Bayalisha, Oda, Oda Paika, Oda Paiko, Haladia Teli and Rajashribalasi/Balasi are already recognized as Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) in Odisha. ADVERTISEMENT

“Many communities in Odisha’s state SEBC list are not yet to be included in the Central OBC list. Because of this, people belonging

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