Maratha Reservation: Maharashtra government takes eight major decisions

Amid the ongoing agitation from the Maratha community over the Supreme Court’s decision, the Uddhav Thackeray government in Maharashtra has taken eight major decision to provide relief to the Maratha community. 

Recently, the Supreme Court ordered an interim stay on the implementation of 16 per cent quota for the Maratha community in government jobs and education. The apex court referred the matter of its validity to a larger bench. 

This has upset the Maratha community in Maharashtra who have been protesting against the state and central government to press their demands. The Maharashtra government has also filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking a vacation of the interim stay order on the implementation of Maratha reservation.

The Maharashtra government has decided to provide relief to students from the Maratha community until the interim stay order by the Supreme Court on the reservation is lifted. It announced several measures to satisfy the demands of students and youth from the Maratha community. 

• Ashok Chavan, chairman of the cabinet sub-committee formed by the state government to tackle the Maratha reservation issue, informed that the Uddhav Thackeray cabinet has decided to extend the benefit of Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota of 10 per cent to Maratha community. 

• The Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Tuition Fee Scholarship Scheme will be extended to Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) students. The state government has sanctioned ₹600 crores for this financial year. Additional funds will be provided if necessary.

• Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Hostel Allowance Scheme was earlier applicable for SEBC category. The same will now be applicable for those under the EWS category. A provision of ₹80 crores has been approved for the same.

• The government and other buildings will be handed over to registered institutions to run hostels for students from the EWS category. This will be done through the Department of Higher and Technical Education and under the Punjabi Deshmukh Hostel Scheme. 

• The government will provide financial support to Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training and Human Development Institute (SARTHI), Pune. The SARTHI institution has demanded ₹130 crores for this year. Additional funds will be provided if necessary.

• The Annasaheb Patil Economic Backward Development Corporation can now provide financial assistance to unemployed entrepreneurs among Marathas. The share capital has been increased by ₹400 crores. Additional funds will be provided if necessary.

• The government has decided to appoint the heirs of those who died in the Maratha Kranti Morcha in Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC). Proposals will be received and emulated within a month

• The Maharashtra government will withdraw non-serious cases registered against those who participated in Maratha Kranti Morcha. Currently, only 26 cases are pending with the government.