Maharashtra government announces 1% reservation for orphans, destitutes

The state government on Monday issued a Government Resolution (GR) to provide one per cent reservation to orphans in government jobs. It is for the first time that such a reservation benefit is being provided to orphans and caste certificate would not be a barrier while availing the reservation. This will enable the inmates of an orphanage to get education and government jobs after leaving the orphanage. There will be no caste clause for the destitutes to avail this reservation. CM Fadnavis had announced on 28 March, 2018 that a total of 72,000 government posts would be filled in two years and orphans also can avail benefit of the same with today's GR.

Earlier, in the absence of any category where destitutes could be slotted, allotting educational, economic and social benefits was a challenge for the government. Hence, CM Devendra Fadnavis had promised reservation for the orphans and destitutes in the state. Accordingly, the issue was discussed in the state cabinet and the reservation was agreed upon.

The reservation will be subject to the following conditions. In order to avail the benefit, the beneficiary student will have to produce a certificate that the Women and Child welfare Department accords to registered inmates of orphan and destitute homes.

The benefits will be accorded only to those whose parentage, relatives are not known. This reservation will be applicable to government jobs, scholarships, hostels and professional education schemes.