Plea made to raise OBC quota to accommodate Marathas

A strong plea that the Centre and Maharashtra raise the OBC quota to accommodate the Marathas was made by former Youth Congress chief Satyajit Gaekwad today.
Gaekwad, who is associated with the coordination panel for OBC reservation for Marathas, told reporters that the Centre and Maharashtra government agree to the recommendations made by the Sudarshan Natchiappan Committee in this regard.
The committee is agitating to provide OBC quota benefits to those needy in the Maratha community without affecting the share of other backwards.
The Natchiappan Committee had recommended that government carry out a survey to assess the size of different communities like SCs, STs and OBCs in the total population, make an appraisal of their representation according to their population, and if need be, explore the feasibility of enhancing the limit of fifty percent by way of amending the Constitution suitably.

Natchiappan, who is currently minister of state for Commerce and Industry, had headed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel which had given the report in 2005 while dealing with the issue of reservation in posts and services for the SC, ST and OBC.