The Maharashtra State Backward Classes Commission (MSBCC) on Friday submitted its survey report on the social, economic and educational backwardness of the Maratha community to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
When the commission’s chief Justice (retd) Sunil Shukre presented the report, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was also present there.
Chief Minister Shinde hopes that on the basis of this survey report, the Maratha community will be able to get reservation that passes legal scrutiny.
Although the report has not been made public yet, there is a strong discussion that the Commission has not considered Kunbi certificate holders as entitled to Maratha reservation.
After receiving the report of the commission, Chief Minister Shinde himself also clarified that Marathas who had obtained Kunbi (OBC) caste certificates after searching Kunbi records in their lineage, would not be eligible for Maratha quota.
Now a special session of the Assembly has been called on February 20 to discuss and give reservation to the Maratha community on the basis of social, educational and economic backwardness.
On that day, the issue will first be discussed in the state cabinet meeting around 10 am and then the reservation bill will be introduced in the assembly about an hour later.
A senior official familiar with the matter said, “When there is a consensus among the political parties on providing reservation to the Maratha community, then there will be no need for much discussion on it and the path for reservation will be cleared.”
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shinde has urged Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange to end his indefinite hunger strike.
He said that the state government is positive about giving reservation to the community. Social activist Manoj Jarange is currently on an indefinite fast since February 10 at his native place in Jalna district regarding Maratha reservation.
The Chief Minister’s Office said the report will help the government with necessary data to enact a law ensuring reservation for the Maratha community.
About 2.5 crore families were included in this massive exercise. Shinde stressed that reservation would be given to people of the Maratha community without disturbing the existing reservation of other communities.
The survey was launched across Maharashtra on January 23 in which 3.5 lakh to 4 lakh state government employees participated.
This survey was conducted on 2.5 crore families. The government, in a similar exercise, had also started searching Kunbi records.
Kunbis, who belong to the farming community, fall in the Other Backward Class (OBC) category and Jarange is demanding Kunbi certificate for all Marathas.