The Maharashtra State Assembly will move a bill granting 16% quota to Maratha who makes 32-35% of the total population of the state. Talking to the media, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said ‘Assembly will move a bill to grant special reservation to Marathas in the winter session that begins on Monday”.
He added ‘State will follow the Tamil Nadu Model to give 16% quota to Marathas as socially backward and weaker section’. With this move, Maharashtra will be offering 68% quota in government jobs and education to benefit SCs, STs, OBCs, other minor social groups, and Marathas. Tamil Nadu has granted a total of 69% reservation in the state to benefit SCs, STs, OBCs and other social and minor groups. The highest court in the 1990s has put a bar of 50% on quota and the Tamil Nadu’s case is still pending before the apex court.
‘The Government has accepted the major recommendation of the state commission of backward class that submitted a report in favor of the reservation for the social group’ he further said.
Though CM Fadnavis clarifies that the current system of the reservation will not be disturbed with this move. A ministerial committee has been set up in order to study the recommendation thoroughly. And the final decision will be taken only after the end of the two-week winter session of the assembly. A total of 13 bills will be introduced in the winter session of the state assembly and will discuss the drought conditions of over 150 tehsils of the state.
He also lashes out on the opposition and rejected the charge that government has not taken drought relief measures. He said ‘Drought relief measures in the state have been already started. We have demanded a relief fund of 7,500crore from the central government’