Centre is committed to work for SC, ST and OBC: Gohain

Kolkata, Sep 9 (PTI) Union Minister of State for RailwaysRajen Gohain today said the Centre was committed to work forthe welfare of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes and thepeople belonging to Other Backward Classes and provide themadequate constitutional safeguards. "The people belonging to SC, ST and OBC categories shouldbe given adequate constitutional safeguards. We are workingfor their welfare," ha said. Speaking at the Central Annual Convention and GeneralBody Meeting of the All India Scheduled Castes and ScheduledTribes Railway Employees Association, Gohain said if thecountry was running smoothly today, it was because of B RAmbedkar who rightly laid the foundation its Constitution. He said the number of railway employees had come down to13 lakh from 15 lakh and among them the number of SC and STemployees was merely 3 lakh. In such a situation the demands of such employees shouldbe rightfully placed before the government, he said, addingthat he would make personal efforts for their welfare. To make our country richer socially, politically andeconomically, greater opportunities should be ensured for theupliftment of SC, ST and OBC people. Prime Minister NarendraModi is working for itwhole-heartedly, Gohain said. Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of State forFinance and Corporate Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal said that theCentre was trying to achieve consensus on reservation issue aswell as on prevention of atrocities on people belonging to SC,ST and OBC by bringing legislation. He said Modi had great regard for B R Ambedkar and alwaysmentioned Babasaheb’s name wherever he went outside India. Whether it is for deliberating at G -20 Summit or JointSession of US Congress, he (Modi)never forgot to mention abouthis work on achieving social indiscrimination, supporting therights of women as well as labour, he said The convention was attended by the railway employeesbelonging to SC, ST and OBC of all the zonal railways.PTI AKB MDMRJ