Marathas to share 10 per cent EWS quota

A Maratha Kranti Morcha member protests at Bharatmata junction, Parel in May. File Pic

In an attempt to resolve a crisis that arose after the apex court's scrapping of the Maratha reservation, Maharashtra government on Monday allowed the community to share the 10 per cent Economically Weaker Section quota given to people who are not covered under any social reservation.

Earlier, Marathas couldn't avail of the EWS quota because they were included in the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC). But since the state lost the SEBC quota in the Supreme Court recently, the community had threatened a stir from June 6. Till other attempts to restore the Maratha quota succeed, the government has thought of extending the EWS benefit to certified economically weaker people from the community.

The 10 per cent EWS category was introduced by the Centre for open category people through the 103rd constitutional amendment. The state government had adopted the quota. As the Government Resolution was issued on Monday, the quota will be effective in the education sector from the coming academic season in all government, aided and unaided institutes and autonomous universities except minority institutes. For direct recruitment, the quota is applicable in government and semi-government services, civic and local self-government bodies, state-run corporations and boards and authorities.

Maratha leader and BJP-nominated Rajya Sabha MP Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje Bhosale had given the government an ultimatum to take some concrete decision, failing which he had threatened a stir.

State BJP president Chandrakant Patil said the MVA government was trying to escape the main issue by offering the EWS quota. "The MVA shouldn't think that its responsibility is over with this decision. We will not rest until Marathas are given independent reservation," he said.

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