On Tuesday, the Maharashtra Assembly approved the Maratha Reservation Bill, paving the way for the community to receive a 10 percent quota in educational institutions and government employment. The bill swiftly passed moments after its introduction during the special Assembly session.
Amid Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's call for unanimous approval, opposition leaders, alongside minister Chagan Bhujbal, the lone member from the ruling Shiv Sena, initially voiced objections to the bill. However, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis urged for unified support, a plea that was ultimately met with agreement from opposition leader Vijay Vadettiwar.
Consequently, the bill garnered unanimous approval in the Assembly's dedicated session. The Chief Minister is now set to present the bill for assent in the Legislative Council, after which it will be enacted into law.
On February 17, Shinde and Fadnavis had assured Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil that a special Assembly session would convene on February 20 to address the community's reservation concerns.
However, Jarange-Patil denounced the bill's passage as a "betrayal" to the Maratha community, alleging that the government's decision was influenced by electoral considerations rather than genuine concern for the community's welfare.
Jarange-Patil further expressed skepticism about the efficacy of the reservation, emphasizing the importance of addressing the community's original demands.
The bill's approval follows a report submitted by the Maratha Reservation and State Backward Classes Commission on February 16, highlighting the community's educational and economic challenges. The report underscored the community's underrepresentation in educational and employment sectors, attributing it to economic backwardness.
Citing alarming statistics on farmer suicides within the Maratha community, the report emphasized the pressing need for affirmative action to address social and economic disparities. Additionally, the commission affirmed the Maratha community's status as a socially and educationally backward class under constitutional provisions.
Echoing the report's findings, the commission stressed the urgent necessity of reservation for the vulnerable Maratha community to mitigate social injustice and promote social equilibrium. Failure to address these concerns promptly, the commission warned, would exacerbate inequality and social exclusion, undermining societal cohesion.
