The Maharashtra government has extended educational benefits available to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to the Maratha community, days after Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange ended his ninth hunger strike. The decision, formalized through a government resolution (GR) on Friday, makes eight welfare and scholarship schemes applicable to Maratha students from the current academic year.
Details of the Extended Benefits
Officials stated that the schemes include training initiatives and fee reimbursement facilities aimed at boosting access to education and skill development. Among the key provisions, the Post-School Examination Scholarship Scheme, previously applicable to OBCs, will now cover Maratha community students. Additionally, the Motor Vehicle Driver and Carrier Training Scheme, implemented through the Sarathi organization by the planning department, will be extended to eligible Maratha candidates.
Scholarship schemes for primary, secondary, and higher secondary classes, as well as fee reimbursement for students admitted to government and private Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and vocational training programs, will also be made available to the Maratha community.
Background of the Demand
Manoj Jarange had demanded that Maratha community students receive the same educational concessions and schemes as OBC students. He began his ninth hunger strike on May 30 in Antarwali Sarati village in Marathwada but ended it the next day after the state government provided assurances on issues related to the Maratha quota.
Government Resolution Highlights
The GR stated, “The state government has considered issuing detailed instructions to the concerned departments to allow the Maratha community to benefit from all educational concessions and facilities like other OBCs, making separate provision of funds in the current and upcoming financial years and making necessary technical changes in the MahaDBT portal to enable eligible beneficiaries to get benefits online.”
Officials noted that during a discussion in the Maratha reservation sub-committee meeting, difficulties in providing educational concessions to the Maratha community were addressed. It was revealed that separate fund provisions and technical updates on the MahaDBT portal were necessary.
Implementation and Monitoring
The state government has directed multiple departments—including school education and sports, higher and technical education, medical education, agriculture, animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries development, skill development, employment, entrepreneurship, and planning—to extend OBC-like education benefits to Maratha community students.
A detailed review of the implementation will be conducted periodically by the cabinet sub-committee focused on the social, educational, and economic condition of the Maratha community. “All implementing departments should submit a detailed compliance report of the action taken,” the GR added.
