MARATHAS TAKE MUMBAI BY STORM
605 courses open to community students for scholarships Rs 5cr each for hostels in all dists 3L youths in skill development plan
The massive Maratha rally in the city ended on a positive note but without any concrete assurance on reservation in jobs and educational seats, the major demand of the community.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, however, made several announcements benefiting the Maratha students and informed a visiting delegation that efforts for handing out stringent punishment to culprits in the Kopardi rape have been taken up by his government.
“A sub-committee of the state cabinet would be formed which will review the implementation of various schemes announced for the Maratha community at regular intervals and also hold talks with leaders of the Maratha community from time to time,” Fadnavis told the Assembly.
After meeting the delegation from the Maratha rally, Fadnavis addressed the House where he announced that 605 courses would now on be covered under the state government’s scholarship scheme for the students from the Maratha community, instead of the earlier 35. Further, the pre-condition of 60 per cent marks as the eligible criteria to get scholarships has been done away with. This would enable students from the Maratha community to avail concessions just like the students from Other Backward Communities (OBCs), Fadnavis said.
The government has allocated Rs 5 crore each to build hostels for students from the community in all districts of the state, the CM said, highlighting that under the schemes of Annasaheb Patil Economic Development Corporation, a massive program for skill development of three lakh youths from the community is being undertaken wherein an individual would be able to avail a loan of up to 10 lakh and the government will pay the interest.
The government is positive about the reservation in jobs, Fadnavis said, stressing that the proposal is pending with the State Backward Class Commission as per the directives of the high court. The government will pursue the commission to give its comments at the earliest, he assured.
The Kopardi case is in its last stage and hearing on the sentence will begin once re-examination of a witness, as demanded by the defendants, is done, Fadnavis said elaborating on the steps taken by his government for speedy prosecution.
The government is positively pursuing the issues raised by the Maratha agitation and the whole of legislature is with the government, Fadnavis said, promising that his government is committed to resolve all issues of the community.
However, Fadnavis didn’t mention steps taken on two crucial demands raised by the community, viz., amendments in the atrocities Act and implementation of recommendations made by the Swaminathan Commission.
Young girls who had met the chief minister informed the rally about assurance given by Fadnavis. Sambhaji Raje, MP and direct descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj assured the rally that he was with them as a Maratha worker and not as a Chhatrapati. Congress legislator Nitesh Rane also assured that he will follow up of the assurance given by the CM.