Though dominant, the community lags economically, educationally and socially, claims State Backward Class Commission report tabled in legislature
They may be the dominant and ruling caste in Maharashtra, but according to the State Backward Class Commission, they are educationally, socially and economically backward.
The panel's findings tabled in the state legislature on Thursday pointed to a sample survey by the commission which said Marathas lag on indices such as public employment, education, social and economic status, landholding and livelihood.
For instance, around 93 per cent Maratha families have an annual income of up to Rs 1 lakh, which is below the average middle-class income, and 37.28 per cent fall below the poverty line.
The Marathas, estimated by the SBCC to constitute over 30 per cent of the state's population, occupy 4.30 per cent of academic and teaching posts, and around 6 per cent of government and semi-government jobs, most of them in Class D.
Around 70 per cent of the community resides in 'kaccha' houses. What's more, of 13,368 farmers who committed suicide between 2013 and 2018, a total of 2,152 (23.56%) were Marathas. While 71 per cent Maratha families are landless or marginal land owners, 49 per cent don't own any vehicle.
The survey detected that 88.81 per cent Maratha women perform physical labour for livelihood — at least 5 per cent more than the state average.
"The Maratha class of citizens is declared as Socially and Educationally Backward Class of Citizens (SEBC) and has inadequate representation in the services in the State," the SBCC said in its final recommendations, adding that they were entitled to reservation advantages under the Constitution.
The commission noted that if backward classes were asked to share their benefits with Marathas, who form 30% of the population, "it would be a catastrophic scenario creating an extraordinary situation… (which) may lead to unwanted repercussions in harmonious coexistence in the state." Hence, it was expedient to relax the percentage of reservations by exceeding the 50 per cent cap imposed by Supreme Court on quotas.
Activist and Sahitya Akademi award winner Laxman Mane, who is known for organising denotified and nomadic tribes, blamed elite section of Marathas for the community's ills. "This leadership lacked long-term vision. The Marathas lagged after the economy was opened up. The cooperative sector, which provided employment to lakhs, is in the doldrums. The question is, will the established sections among Marathas allow these quota benefits to trickle down to others?" he asked.
PG Jogdand, former head of the department of sociology, University of Mumbai, said the Maratha quota decision turned eminent sociologist MN Srinivas' theory of Sanskritisation (when lower castes seek upward mobility) on its head. "Marathas are a dominant caste due to their numbers, land holdings and political consciousness… this demand for reservations had no basis," he said, stating that caste lines in Maharashtra would sharpen.
KRANTI YIELDS JOBS
Silent marches the community embarked on since 2016 have finally crystallised into legislative action
SWAY OF NUMBERS
30% Percentage of Maratha population in state, according to State Backward Class Commission (SBCC)
32.14% Percentage of Maratha population in the state, according to a special survey by the planning department
27% Population estimate by rural development department
6 No. of times Maratha quota demand has been rejected in the past, the first time in 1980 by the Mandal Commission; by Nat’l Commission for Backward Classes (2000); and four times by state commissions
SBCC FINDINGS
Social status
- 76.86% of surveyed Maratha families in state engaged in agriculture or agricultural labour
- 6% hold jobs in government and semi-government services, most in Group D
- 70% Maratha families reside in kaccha dwellings
- 35.39% have personal tap water connections
- 23.56% or 2,152 Maratha farmers committed suicide between 2013 and 2018, as against 13,368 farmer suicides in the state
QUOTA QUANTUM
- SC and ST converts to Buddhism 13%
- ST 7%
- OBCs (both Hindus and non-Hindus with economic ceiling) 19%
- VJNT 11%
- SBC 2% (in jobs)
- Total 52%
THE SILENT MARCH TO NOVEMBER GAIN
- June 2014 Congress-NCP govt approves 16% job quota for ‘educationally and socially backward’ Marathas, and 5% for Muslims; was to be executed within 52% reservations in state
- Nov 2014 HC stays Maratha/Muslim quota. Later, SC refuses to vacate HC’s interim order staying reservation for Marathas
- Jan 2015 State converts ordinance into act, approves bill
- Jul 2016 Maratha girl’s rape-murder in Kopardi catalyses silent Maratha Kranti marches into a full-fledged movement
- Jun 30, 2017 Maha refers issue to Commission (SBCC)
- Nov 15, 2018 SBCC report backs Maratha quota eligibility
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "BJP activists")
)
"The Maratha class of citizens is declared as Socially and Educationally Backward Class of Citizens (SEBC) and has inadequate representation in the services in the State," the SBCC said in its final recommendations, adding that they were entitled to reservation advantages under the Constitution.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}