Govt backtracks on Dhangar reservation

MUMBAI: Contrary to its promise, the state now plans to just send the request of Dhangar and other communities for inclusion in the scheduled caste to the Centre, without any recommendation.

After receiving representations of more than 50 communities, including Dhangar, Wanjari, Lingayat for their inclusion in categories such as scheduled castes, schedules tribes and OBCS, the state had promised to recommend their inclusion in a separate schedule.

The decision of not sending a recommendation is expected to create a furore among the communities that have been demanding reservations amid violent agitations. After the state Cabinet decided to recommend a special schedule for Dhangar and other communities, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar demanded the inclusion of Dhangar community in the existing schedule. The state

Cabinet has decided to put the ball in the Centre’s court to avert further controversy.

The Cabinet also approved the proposal of 5% reservation in recruitment of constables to the children of the serving or retired policemen. The government has also decided to reserve 2% seats to legal heirs of the policemen who died while on duty.

NO NEW HIGH-POWERED COMMITTEE FOR CCTV PROJECT

After home minister RR Patil refused to head a high-powered committee to handle the CCTV

project for Mumbai, the state Cabinet decided to keep the existing committee headed by chief secretary intact.

The cabinet, in its earlier meeting two weeks ago, had decided to shift the charge of the existing

high-powered committee to Patil When the proposal was moved before the Cabinet for the decision Patil and other ministers cited the technical difficulty of code of con duct. The cabinet then decided to keep the existing panel intact.