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Maratha backwardness and the reservation stir

The political parties of all hue and colour and various organisations bat for reservation in education and jobs.

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Maratha morcha in Maharashtra
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In the run up to the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, the Maharashtra government's decision to provide reservation to the politically influential Maratha community, under the Socially & Educationally Backward Class (SEBC), has triggered a political churn in the state. Of nearly 13 crore population, the Marathas, who are a military land holding class, constitutes nearly 33 per cent.

The political parties of all hue and colour and various organisations bat for reservation in education and jobs. The recommendation made by the State Backward Class Commission (SBCC) has given a much needed boost for those seeking quota but it has also led to spurt in the Opposition, especially from the organisations representing Other Backward Class (OBC), which currently enjoys 19 per cent reservation in the state. The proponents of reservation argue that the time is ripe considering the plight of the community.

Clearly, it is a litmus test for the Devendra Fadnavis-led government to provide quota without touching the existing reservation of OBCs and the reservation which will pass the test of law. The government has limited options, including providing quota to Maratha community from the existing 19 per cent reservation already given to Other Backward Classes or creating a sub category. Besides, the government may amend the Maharashtra State Public Services reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Denotified Tribes, Nomadic Tribes, Special Backward Category and Other Backward Classes Act, 2001. In addition to this, the government may approach the Centre with a plea to bring in constitutional amendment so that the 52 per cent cap put by Supreme Court on quota can be extended to provide reservation to the Maratha community.

The demand for reservation goes back 36 years as the leader of Mathadis (head hoarders) Annasaheb Patil had committed suicide way back in 1982 while pressing the demand for the same. The BP Mandal panel, in its report released in 1980, had recommended 27 per cent quota in job for OBCs. However, the panel had considered the Marathas as a forward caste. This did not deter the Marathas to pursue their demand as it again in 1990 approached the National Commission for Backward Class (NCBC) for its inclusion in the central list of backward classes.

However, NCBC, which was established to prepare a list of OBCs for central jobs, also rejected the demand.

Then came the Supreme Court judgement capping the quota at 50 per cent. However, the state has already enforced 52 per cent reservation in educational institutions and jobs. While the quota for OBCs is currently 19 per cent with the inclusion of 346 castes, Schedule Caste with 59 castes enjoy 13 per cent quota, Schedule Tribes with 47 castes 7 per cent, Specially Backward Class with 7 castes 2 per cent, Vimukta Jati with 14 castes 3 per cent, Notified Tribes (B) with 35 castes 2.5 per cent, Notified Tribes (c) with one caste 3.5 per cent and Notified Tribes (D) with one caste 2 per cent. So, currently a total of 510 castes across the state has been covered by the 52 per cent quota.

Maratha are divided in four main classes, comprising the elite class either power centre themselves or close to the power that be, the wealthy farmers with large holdings engaged in the cultivation of cash crops, the small to mid-sized farmers whose dependency is on the season's crop for their subsistence and the very poor farmers and landless labourers. It must be mentioned here that 10 of Maharashtra's 8 CMs, since the state's formation, had come from Maratha community.

The report titled 'Maharashtra Cabinet's Social and Regional Profile 1960-2010,' penned by Abhay Datar and Vivek Ghotale, 78 of the 173 cabinet minister during that period were Marathas/Kunbis and of the 16 cabinets till 2010, Marathas dominated 10. One of the six, when the Marathas were not in majority during the Shiv Sena-BJP government-led by Chief Minister Manohar Joshi between 1995 and 1999. In the Fadnavis-led cabinet, 15 of the 39 ministers hail from the Maratha community.

However, political parties and various organisations argue that the condition of the bottom two classes has worsened following mismatch between the cost of production and remuneration with bouts of drought and agrarian crisis. Besides, lack of higher education due to financial constraints and inadequate job opportunities compared to youths from SC, ST and OBC have been a cause of serious concern.

Ahead of 2014 election, the then Congress-NCP government provided 16 per cent reservation in jobs and education to the Maratha community and 5 per cent to Muslim community. However, the Maratha quota was stayed by the Bombay High Court. Thereafter, the BJP-led government passed a new law but it got locked in a legal battle.

Marathas continued to rake up their demand. The community, under the banner of Maratha Kranti Morcha, took the streets on August 9, 2016, especially after the Kopardi rape murder case took place in Ahmednagar in July. They held 52 silent marches to press for reservation among other demands.

Subsequently, the Fadnavis government referred the issue to the SBCC, which in its report, submitted on November 15, has recommended that the Maratha Class be declared as SEBC and thus they are entitled to reservation benefits as per the Article 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution of India. Besides, the SBCC cited extraordinary and exceptional circumstances for granting quota to the Maratha community.

MAHARASHTRA

  • June 25, 2014  The Congress-NCP Democratic Front government, then headed by Prithviraj Chavan, approved a proposal to reserve 16 per cent of government jobs and seats in educational institutions for Marathas and 5 per cent for Muslims
     
  • Oct 31, 2014   Devendra Fadnavis sworn in as the CM
     
  • Nov 14, 2014  Bombay High Court stayed the decision of the previous government to provide 16 per cent reservations to Marathas
     
  • Dec 18, 2014  Supreme Court refused to vacate the Bombay High Court’s interim order staying reservation for Maratha community
     
  • July 16, 2016  Rape and murder of a Maratha girl at Kopardi in Ahmednagar district that fueled the demand of rights of the community
     
  • Aug 9, 2016 - 2017  Maratha Kranti Morcha held 55 silent marches 
     
  • Sept 1, 2017  Maha govt refers the Maratha quota issue to the State Backward Class Commission for data verification and its finding 
     
  • Sept 11, 2018  Maharashtra govt informs the Bombay HC that the SBCC was likely to finalise its report on the socio-economic status of the Maratha community by November 15 
     
  • Nov 15, 2018  SBCC submitted its report suggesting Marathas are eligible for quota under Socially and Educationally Backward Class
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