AHMEDABAD: A state in western India said on Friday it will reserve 10 per cent of government jobs and university spots for people whose income falls below a certain threshold after deadly caste protests last year.

India sets aside a proportion of official positions and post-secondary places for its lower castes to try to counter historic discrimination, but that has caused deep resentment among other communities, who say it freezes them out.

At least 10 people were killed when thousands of Patidars, a relatively well-off caste of farmers and traders, took to the streets in the western state of Gujarat to demand they be included in those quotas. They argue that they are struggling to compete with lower castes who are given preferential access to government jobs.

Chief minister of Gujarat state Anandiben Patel said on Friday a new quota system would be set up to cover those with a household income lower than 600,000 rupees a year, regardless of their caste.

“People from general category having annual income limit of Rs6 lakh will get 10% EBC reservation in education institutions & government jobs,” tweeted Patel, referring to the category of Economically Backward Class.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2016