Maratha backwardness survey to begin from January 23

The move comes ahead of a major protest march of Marathas led by activist Manoj Jarange-Patil to Mumbai on January 20 demanding Kunbi (OBCs) status for Marathas. On January 20, taluka and ward-level officials will be given training on using the software at the district and municipal headquarters. These trainers will then train all the appointed staff in the taluka and ward-level on January 21 and 22 and actual survey work will start from January 23 and would be completed before January 31, 2024,” the government officials said.

The commission has said that identity cards will be provided to the officers and employees appointed for this survey work through the commission.

Earlier, in a bid to stop social activist Manoj Jarange-Patil from entering Mumbai on January 20 for his scheduled protest demanding Kunbi (OBC) status for Marathas, the state government has directed to complete the survey work to fix social and educational backwardness of the community within seven days.

The state government had issued a Government Resolution authorising district collectors to enrol as many human resources as available. “Talathis, police patil, kotwals have been directed to work along with enumerators to collect the data,” said the resolution. The survey will be undertaken of all communities falling under the open category.

The official said the survey would be conducted using the software in addition to the existing work.

The Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission has been tasked to prepare the report to ascertain the social and educational backwardness of Marathas and terms of reference for which were sent to the commission on November 13, 2023 by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Commission’s former chairman Justice Anand Nirgude (Retd) and two members namely Balaji Killarikar and Laxman Hake have resigned from the commission.

Killarikar and Hake had submitted their resignations to protest against the government’s diktat to the commission by dictating the Terms of Reference.