Maratha youth empowerment proposal gets nod

Mumbai: Amid Maratha community’s rising anger over the non-fulfilment of several demands including reservation in state jobs, the Maharashtra government has accepted the report of a committee that aims to empower Maratha youth to placate it. The government had set up the More committee to suggest how SARATHI (Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training and Human Development Institution) must work to empower Maratha youth in realms of education, employment and skill development.

The committee, which was set up under the chairmanship of political expert Dr Sadanand More to finalise the SARATHI programme, has submitted a 79-page report to the government, which has accepted it.

The committee has suggested the provision of benefits under various schemes of the government to youth from the Maratha and Kunbi communities.

All the families under the creamy-layer limit should get the benefits of schemes, the committee suggested. Other suggestions pertain to arranging for jobs for the community’s youth in the private and public sector, skill-development and arranging for their access to coaching classes and fellowships.

In the midst of mammoth Maratha marches in October and December 2016, the state government had come up with number of announcement for the welfare of community. The formation of SARATHI was one of the ambitious announcements. To finalise the details of SARATHI, state government had also formed a committee under Dr More in early 2017.

This government’s acceptance of the Dr More committee report has come after a warning of the Maratha Kranti Morcha (MKM), an umbrella organisation of community. Recently, the MKM gave ultimatum to the state government to expedite the implementation of assurances
to the community.

The community leaders have also warned the state government about an aggressive agitation, should it fail to keep its promises.