CM Eknath Shinde directs officials to keep entire system ready for a comprehensive survey on Maratha community

As Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil began his march to Mumbai from Antarwali Saarati village in Jalna district demanding reservation for Marathas and the march is expected to reach Mumbai on January 26, CM Shinde had convened a meeting of all divisional commissioners, district collectors and municipal commissioners on the issue of Maratha reservation.

Shinde as well as DyCM Devendra Fadnavis have appealed to Jarange-Patil to withdraw the march and that the government is positive on giving reservation to Marathas that would fit in a legal framework.

DyCM Ajit Pawar also said, “CM Shinde has already presented his and government’s stand on the issue of Maratha reservation. But one should not become adamant on the deadlines. One should not demand that a particular thing must happen on a particular day. It takes time since legalities are involved.”

The survey work of the Backward Classes Commission will be held from January 23 to 31 during which nearly 2.5 crore of Maratha and non-Marathas families of the state that falls in the open category will be surveyed.

During the meeting, Shinde instructed the administration that since the survey is important, all the necessary steps for its awareness should be taken on war-footing.

“Inform people about the survey through various means in every village. The surveyors should get information from every household so that the survey will be complete and accurate. Tehsildar and all concerned should report their work daily during the survey period. Training of the surveyors as well as the officers should be done accurately and keep a record of all the training sessions and meetings in the government report,” Shinde said.

The chief minister also asked the administration to carry out a special campaign to provide the documents to people whose Kunbi caste records have been found.

He said that so far 1.47 lakh Kumbi certificates have been issued to Marathas since the formation of retired justice Sandeep Shinde committee.