The Maharashtra government has taken a significant step by issuing a directive on Tuesday to provide fresh Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Maratha community members, making them eligible for reservation benefits under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. In a move to digitize historical documents referencing Kunbis in Urdu and 'Modi' script, the government resolution (GR) has called for the attestation of these records and their subsequent public availability.
This decision follows Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's recent announcement that a government-appointed committee meticulously reviewed 1.72 crore old documents, including those from the Nizam era. Within this extensive examination, 11,530 records were discovered that mentioned the Kunbi caste.
Kunbis, a community traditionally linked to agriculture, have been placed in the OBC category in Maharashtra, allowing them to access educational and employment reservations.
To ensure the legitimacy of the evidence submitted by various government departments, the administration will be modifying the 2012 rules for issuing caste certificates to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Nomadic Tribes, and OBCs. These modifications will align with the recommendations put forth by the government-appointed committee led by Justice Sandeep Shinde (retired), specifically tailored to grant Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas in the Marathwada region.
On the same day, the government accepted the initial report of the committee established in response to renewed demands for reservation from the Maratha community for public jobs and educational institutions. The GR also approved the appointment of three retired judges, including Justice Dilip Bhosale, Justice Maroti Gaikwad, and Justice Sandeep Shinde, who will act as advisory council members, with Justice Bhosale serving as the council chairman.
Furthermore, the State Backward Class Commission will undertake the collection of fresh empirical data to evaluate the educational and social backwardness of the Maratha community, as stated in the order.
These decisions have come against the backdrop of activist Manoj Jarange's ongoing indefinite fast in a village in Jalna district, showing solidarity with the Maratha community's demand for reservations. The situation has also witnessed instances of violence, particularly in the Marathwada region.
