Maratha reservation: Panel to submit report to Maha govt soon

The Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission would soon submit its report to the government on the Maratha reservation issue, an official said.

The politically influential Maratha community, largely engaged in agriculture, has been demanding reservation in educational institutions and government jobs under the OBC (Other Backward Classes) category.

Several Maratha organisations had earlier held massive 'silent marches' across the state to press for their demands.

The survey undertaken by the commission to ascertain the economic backwardness in the Maratha community is in its final stages, the panel's chairman, Justice (retd) M G Gaikwad, told reporters here last evening.

The report based on the survey would soon be submitted to the government, he said.

The report will be based on findings of the sample survey conducted at five villages in every district and the figures on the community available with the government, Gaikwad said.

The commission held a day-long public hearing in Thane yesterday on the quota issue.

The panel's team received about 1,850 representations from the district in this connection, he said.

The survey has been completed in the Marathwada region, and in Nagpur, Amravati, Ahmednagar and Solapur districts, he said, adding that the exercise is on in other parts of the state.