Maharashtra Assembly approves 16% quota for Marathas

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, November 29

The Maharashtra Assembly today unanimously passed a Bill allowing 16 per cent reservation for the Maratha community in educational institutions and government jobs.

Under the law, quota for the Maratha community is being introduced under a separate Socially and Economically Backward Class (SEBC). At present, Maharashtra has 52 per cent reservation for Scheduled Castes and Tribes, Other Backward Castes and others. The 16 per cent reservation for Marathas will be implemented without disturbing the existing quota, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.

As soon as he introduced the Bill, Leader of the Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil of the Congress extended his support. NCP leader Ajit Pawar said there was no need for any discussion on the Bill, which was then passed unanimously. 

The government tabled the Action Taken Report on the recommendations of the State Backward Classes Commission, but refused to table the report itself.

Following the introduction of reservation, members of the Maratha community below the “creamy layer” will be eligible for admission to educational institutions other than minority institutions under this quota. Seats in educational institutions under the reserved category will go up to 68 per cent as against 52 per cent till now.

Backward classes commission’s findings

• Marathas have 21.5 out of 25 points on social, educational and economic backwardness
• 93% have annual income of less than Rs 1 lakh
• Marathas account for about 30% of state’s population. In addition, 76.86% of Marathas are either farmers or farm labourers
• 88.8% of Maratha women work as labourers
• Due to lack of educational qualification, 21.1% of Marathas eke out a living in urban areas as head-loaders, porters and dabbawalas