Maratha community in Maharashtra to get reservation, announces Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

The Maharashtra government said on Sunday that independent reservation will be given to the Maratha community in government jobs and educational institutions, months after protests across the state. "We received Backward Class Commission report with three recommendations. Independent reservation will be given to Maratha community in SEBC. We've accepted the recommendations and constituted a Cabinet sub-committee to take statutory steps for implementing them," said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

On Thursday, the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission submitted its report on the social and economic conditions of the Marathas, with a government source saying that it has favoured quota for the community. The commission had handed over the report to Maharashtra chief secretary DK Jain.

According to a government source, the report has made favourable recommendations on the Maratha community’s demand of reservation in government jobs and educational institutions without tampering with the existing quota for the OBCs.

The annoucement came a day after Maharashtra Water ResourcesMinister Girish Mahajan said that the Maratha community's demand of quota in government jobs and educational institutions has been "almost fulfilled".

Mahajan met activists of the Maratha Kranti Morcha(MKM) at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on Sunday, appealing them to call off their hunger strike over various demands of the community.

 "The main demand of quota is almost fulfilled...We have taken decisions, but there is a need to expedite implementation...We will hold meeting in two-three days. We will take positive steps," Mahajan told reporters later. 

In July this year, the government had announced 16% reservation for the Marathas in 72,000 government jobs, which was later stayed following protests.

Before the 2014 Assembly polls, then Congress-NCP government had granted 16% reservation for the Marathas and five% quota for the Muslim community through an ordinance, which was stayed by the Bombay high court.

State Congress chief Ashok Chavan said his party would extend cooperation to the government on the quota issue.

In August, thousands of protesters had hit the streets of Maharashtra demanding reservations in jobs and education. Protests had turned violent in Pune and Aurangabad, while demonstrations took place in Mumbai and Thane.

(With PTI inputs)