Sanatan Prabhat > Location > Asia > India > Maharashtra > The Maharashtra Govt agrees to provide reservations to the Kunbi caste of Marathas based on Nizam-era records

The Maharashtra Govt agrees to provide reservations to the Kunbi caste of Marathas based on Nizam-era records

A committee of retired judges will determine the procedure within a month

Jalna (Maharashtra) – Manoj Jarange Patil is currently on an indefinite hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati,  demanding OBC reservation benefits for the Maratha community in Marathwada by giving a ‘Kunbi’ certificate. According to the protesters’ demands, the Government should grant reservations to those individuals listed in the genealogy records from the Nizam period by issuing a Kunbi caste certificate. Following a cabinet meeting on 6th September, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced the formation of a committee comprising five officials, led by retired High Court Judge Sandeep Shinde.

The committee includes the Additional Chief Secretary of Revenue, the Principal Secretary of the Law and Justice Department, and the Collector as members, with the Divisional Commissioner of Sambhajinagar serving as the Member Secretary. The committee’s responsibilities include verifying revenue and educational records conducting statutory verification for the issuance of Kunbi certificates, and outlining the associated procedures. They are expected to report back to the Government and also lay down the procedure for this within a month. The issuance of a Kunbi certificate will enable members of the Maratha community to access OBC reservation benefits.

Currently, this committee operates exclusively in Vidarbha, Khandesh, and Konkan. Furthermore, the Government has pledged to withdraw serious charges mistakenly filed against 3,332 protesters in Antarwali Sarati.

The hunger strike will be withdrawn only after a written guarantee and an ordinance is issued – Manoj Jarange, Protestor

Manoj Jarange (centre) (Credit : Rediff)

Manoj Jarange said, “The Government has passed an ordinance on ‘Kunbi’registration based on genealogy. We do not have such documents, but whatever they need, be it documents or experts, we are willing to provide them to the Government. We have got the documents from the same place from where they will be getting it. If we are already providing all the required proofs then there is no need for extra time. The Government should issue the ordinance,” Jarange said. A written guarantee should be obtained without altering a single word of this assurance. Immediate withdrawal of all charges against the protesters is also demanded before considering an end to the hunger strike after consultation with colleagues.

When Marathwada was part of the Hyderabad province, the community in the region was counted as Kunbis (farmer community). After the Marathwada region became part of Maharashtra, the community got counted as Marathas. Now Marathas of Marathwada region are demanding Kunbi caste certificate and the government has told them to provide documents to prove their Kunbi status during Nizam era.

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