MH: State Commission for Backward Classes to begin its Maratha community survey from Jan 23

Representational image. File photo/PTI

The Maharashtra State Commission for Backward Classes informed on Thursday that it will begin its survey to determine eligibility of Maratha community as backward class from January 23. The survey which will include of the Maratha community and open category in the state will be conducted through the government system, and all the software has been prepared for the survey.

The decision was announced ahead of Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange's decision to embark to Mumbai to protesting for Maratha reservation.

From January 20, the district and ward level officers will be given training on using the software at the district and municipal headquarters and the actual survey work would begin from January 23. The Commission is expected to complete the survey by January 31, the press release from the government said.

The newly appointed Maharashtra State Commission for Backward Classes (MSCBC) is tasked to survey the Maratha community to correctly ascertain its backwardness and therefore their eligibility for reservation in jobs and education.

Meanwhile, the activist Manoj Jarange reiterated his plan to head to Mumbai protesting for Maratha reservation on January 20, since no resolution is found yet. Maratha quota agitation spearhead, Jarange on Thursday accused the Maharashtra government of trying to fool the Marathas, but asserted that his community would not fall into any trap.

"The government comes to us just 2-3 days before every agitation. They are trying to trap and fool the Maratha community. But the Marathas will not fall into any trap and we will go to Mumbai on January 20 as decided earlier since no way out has been found as of now," news wire PTI reported quoting Jarange.

The government and some ministers of trying to hatch a conspiracy against the Maratha agitation, Jarange alleged.

Violence had broken out at Antarwali Sarati on September 1 last year after protesters allegedly refused to let authorities shift Jarange, who was on a hunger strike for the Maratha quota demand, to a hospital. Several persons, including 40 police personnel, were injured and more than 15 state transport buses set ablaze in the violence.

Jarange said, "If reservation is not given, the agitation will be made nationwide. People from Madhya Pradesh and other states are saying they want to take part in the agitation on 20 January."

(With PTI inputs)