Fulfilling a Long Pending Demand: Marathas to Benefit from Reservation:
The Maharashtra Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has approved a significant move to grant 10% reservation for the Maratha community in the state. This decision will provide reservation benefits to Marathas in education and government jobs. The draft bill for the reservation has been approved, marking a significant step towards fulfilling the long-standing demand of the Maratha community. It is noteworthy that the Marathas already benefit from a 10% quota for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), where they claim 85% of the reservation benefits.
Third Attempt at Maratha Reservation Bill:
Despite facing legal challenges, this marks the third attempt in a decade by the Maharashtra government to introduce legislation for the Maratha reservation. The bill proposing a 10% quota for Marathas is similar to the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Act, 2018, introduced during the tenure of former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The extension of reservation to the Maratha community is based on a report submitted by the Maharashtra Backward Class Commission (MBCC), headed by Chairman Justice (Retired) Sunil Shukre.
Special Session of Assembly and Maratha Quota Report:
To pass the bill, the Maharashtra government has called for a special session of the assembly. This decision was prompted by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil’s hunger strike at Antarwali Saarati village in Jalna district, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the Maratha community’s demands.
The Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission conducted a survey of approximately 2.5 crore households within nine days and submitted a report on the social and educational backwardness of the Maratha community to the Shinde government. In June 2017, the then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis formed the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (MSBCC) under the leadership of Justice (Retired) MG Gaikwad. The commission’s objective was to study the social, financial, and educational status of the Maratha community. In November 2018, the Commission submitted its report, which classified Marathas as a socially and educationally backward class (SEBC).
Conclusion:
The approval of the 10% reservation for the Maratha community in education and government jobs marks a significant step towards addressing the demands and aspirations of the community. The Maharashtra government’s decision to convene a special session of the assembly reflects the urgency and importance attached to this issue. As the bill progresses through the legislative process, it is expected to have a transformative impact on the socio-economic landscape of the Maratha community in Maharashtra.
-Prisha Jaiswal