<span style="color: #222222;">Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has called for affirmative action for reservation to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Socio Economically Backward Classes (SEBCs) in Odisha. In his letter to the Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik today, the Union Minister said that the OBCs and the SEBCs, who constitute a considerable portion of the total population of the State, have been historically deprived of opportunities in education and employment thereby scuttling their socio-economic development. <br />''<br />''Making a reference to the State government's recent decision to provide reservations for government school students in medical and engineering colleges of Odisha, Mr. Pradhan reiterated his request to the Chief Minister to make provisions of reservation for the OBCs in the field of public employment and educational institutions and for the SEBCs in educational institutions.</span><br />