– Appreciation for completing survey in record time working day and night
– Maratha community will be given reservation within the legal framework without disturbing quota of othe communities : Chief Minister Eknath Shinde
Mumbai :- Chairman of the State Backward Class Commission retired Justice Sunil Shukre today submitted the statewide survey report on examining backwardness of the Maratha community to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Dy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was present on this occasion. Other members of the commission were also present when the report was submitted at the Varsha residence today.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde appreciated the efforts of neatly 3.5 to 4 lakh officers and employees, entire administrative machinary and the Commission for completing this task in a record time. The Chief Minister had given instructions to complete this survey work on the war footing while conducting meetings regarding reservation issue.
The state government has conducted a statewide survey on war footing from January 23 to examine social, economic and academic backwardness of the Maratha community and open category. This survey was completed on February 2. The survey covered approximately 2.5 crore families with the help of Gokhale Institute, IIPS, and other reputed institutions.
As per the directions of the Chief Minister an appeal was made to the citizens of every village to co-operate with survey team by providing the required information. This has helped in completing the survey speedily.
All the divisional commissioners, district collectors, municipal commissioners, of the state were appointed as Nodel Officers for this work. Besides, under the presidency of the Chief Secretary, secretaries of all the departments provided factual information about percentage of the community in government and semi-government jobs, academic representation of students and information about land acquisition, land holding, jamabandi, land records etc. to the commission. In addition, information about labourers was also given to the commission. Apart from this, information regarding suicides of Maratha youth in view of the Maratha reservation movement in the state was also made available to the commission.
No injustice to any community
Speaking on this occasion, Chief Minister Shinde said that the Backward Class Commission was directed by the State Government to examine social, economic and educational backwardness of the Maratha community. 3.5 to 4 lakh people had worked day and night to complete this work. The Maratha reservation given during the tenure of the then Chief Minister Fadnavis was validated by the High Court but unfortunately it could not stand in the Supreme Court. The report submitted today will be placed before the state cabinet and discussion will be held on the report, the Chief Minister said.
We are positive from the beginning on providing reservation to the Maratha community and had taken steps in that direction from time to time. The commission has completed its work in a record time and I am confident that we can provide lasting reservation within the framework of the law and without disturbing the quota structure of the OBS and other communities.
Appeal to withdraw movement
The state government is honestly trying it’s best to provide reservation to the Maratha community. We have in last some months, taken certain concrete steps. The commission today submitted its report in record time. We have convened a special session of the state legislature on 20th February. In view of all this, the Chief Minister appealed to the leaders to withdraw their agitation.
Chief Secretary Dr. Nitin Karir, Secretary of Social Justice Department Sumant Bhange members of commission Ambadas Mohite, Omprakash Jadhav, Machchindranath Tambe, Jyotiram Chavhan, Maruti Shinkare, Dr. Govind Kale, Dr. Gajanan Kharate, Nilima Sarap (Lakhade) and Member-Secretary A. U. Patil were present while submitting this report.
