Karaikal fishermen seek return to MBC fold as education levels rise

Sections of fisher community along the Karaikal coast have raised concerns over the 2% internal reservation under the Extreme Backward Classes (EBC) category, arguing that it no longer reflects their educational advancement or population share.

Community representatives say the quota, introduced after the fishermen were moved out of the Most Backward Classes (MBC) category in 2010, has become restrictive. “Two seats out of a hundred for an entire community is inadequate today. Earlier, many youth remained in fishing. Now, students are scoring above 75% and aspiring for higher education,” said K. Gajendran, a former panchayat representative from Kilinchalmedu.