Maharashtra OBC commission submits survey report on backwardness of Maratha community

Pic/Maharashtra CMO

The Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission on Friday submitted a report on its survey on the social, economic, and educational backwardness of the Maratha community, the Chief Minister's Office said, reported news agency PTI.

The massive exercise covered nearly 2.5 crore families.

The report will enable the government to introduce a law ensuring reservation for the Maratha community with the backing of necessary data, the CMO said, reported PTI.

The government has also announced a special session on February 20 to discuss the Maratha community's demands for quota in education and government jobs. Activist Manoj Jarange is currently on an indefinite fast at his native place in Jalna district over Maratha reservation.

The report was submitted by chairperson of the commission Justice (retd) Sunil Shukre to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the CMO said, reported PTI.

"The survey will be discussed in the state cabinet meeting," it said, quoting CM Shinde.

Shinde has stressed that Marathas will be given reservation without disturbing the existing quota of other communities, reported PTI.

Shinde also urged activist Jarange to end his indefinite hunger strike and said the state government is positive about giving reservation to the community.

"The government had already made itself completely clear in the context of Maratha reservation. Based on the Shukre Committee report, we will take forward the Maratha reservation. The issue of reservation in the context of Kunbi registration has already been taken forward and work on it is already going on. There was no need to go on fast. But unfortunately, this is happening, we would like and request him to withdraw his fast, the government is positively doing its work to meet the demands," CM Shinde said.

The survey began on January 23 across Maharashtra, involving 3.5 to 4 lakh state government personnel, and it covered 2.5 crore families.

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday said a special session of the state legislature would be held on February 20 to discuss reservation and other demands of the Maratha community.

On Thursday, Jarange continued his indefinite fast for the sixth day at his native Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district and said he would go to Mumbai on February 18 or 19 to press for the demand of converting the government's draft notification on 'blood relatives' of Kunbi Marathas into a law.

(With inputs from PTI)