Maharashtra announces 1 per cent quota for orphans

Shiv Kumar

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Tribune New Service

Mumbai, April 3

The Maharashtra government has announced a 1 per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for orphans.

A government resolution (GR) to this effect was issued by the state women and child development department on Monday, according to a statement.

Under the GR, orphans would have reservation in all categories of government jobs -- from class I to IV. Similar reservations would be applicable to all scholarship schemes and admissions to government-run hostels as well, according to the GR.

The separate category for orphans will be created from the general category so that the government would not have to reduce the share of quotas under the caste-based reservation.

Orphans holding a certificate to that effect from the state government would benefit from the scheme, according to officials.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told reporters that the government took the decision for a separate quota for orphans after he came across the case of a young woman who had passed the Maharashtra Public Services Commission (MPSC) exams. 

Though Amruta Karvande, 23, had sufficient marks to qualify in the reserved categories she had no caste certificate as she was an orphan. 

Fadnavis had assured her that the government would create a special category for orphans who were unable to give proof of their caste.