Review on The Maratha Community

Maharashtra is the second largest state in terms of population and third largest state in terms of the area in India (2011). That’s why Maharashtra became the second largest constituency with the 48 seats in Lok Sabha out of 545 total seats. That makes Maharashtra’s politics important and sensitive itself in Maharashtra and nationally. Recently in Maharashtra huge silent rallies organized by the Maratha community for demanding reservation. The nature of the rallies was too silent but anger within the rallies clearly understand by popularity and the size of the rallies. On one hand, the constitution stands for the secularism and equal opportunity for all.

Government is responsible for the removing the reservation into India. But some communities start saying they are not progressive and come in the underprivileged category. That’s a real development problem in India because caste-based reservations will do nothing but damage the Indian economy eventually. This will, if not now then later on, definitely negatively impact the efficiency of the job. On a macro scale, this inefficiency can drag down India's growth story (Varun). In Maharashtra start demanding for the reservation first is to the Maratha community demanding for the OBC reservation and Dhangar community demanding for the ST reservation. For the study purpose, I am focusing only on reservation demand of the Maratha community. This is also somehow emerging out of the incomplete statistical information provided by the previous government. Triggering event Triggering event that causes to the rising demand for Maratha reservation. It is the 13th July 2016 Maratha girl rape and murder at Kopardi by Dalit men in Ahmednagar district. Initially when Maratha protest starts demanding to provide death penalty to the victim of the case. Within that their certain demand raises amending the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act and implementation of the Swaminathan committee recommendations.

Maratha community people start claiming about the misuse of the authorities prevention act from the Dalit community. One thing here noticeable is to the accused from the Dalit community and the victim from the Maratha community. That also makes stand to the community in front of each other directly. Then the statement Maratha community is backward and Marathi students are not able to get admission into the good educational institute but because of the reservation student from the low and backward cast easily able get admission in the educational institution even they got fewer marks. That also the same condition about the government job. Provide justice to the girl, silent march starts getting huge popular support from different regions of Maharashtra.

Difference between statistics by Government commission and Human Development Index on socio-economic condition of Maratha Community. In 2014 when Congress- government passed the 16 % reservation based on the recommendation of the Narayan Rane committee. Entire findings of the report not available but Keshav Waghmare wrote in the Divya Marathi newspaper about the findings and claim of the report it surveys twelve and a half thousands of the Maratha household lives under the poverty line. Only 80% of the student form the Maratha community able to get education until 10th class. Only 2% female and 6% able to use the computer. Percentage of a graduate female was to 6% and male 10% (Waghmare).

Amrish Dongre mentioned in his paper on the information of the socio-economic and educational condition based on human development survey index. Maratha household has higher income and lowers poverty in comparison to other community. Also, they are over-represented in government and public sector jobs. That’s why demand for inclusion of Marathas among other backward classes in untenable (Dongre). When I read the above mentioned two different studies first study done by the Maharashtra government’s Narayan Rane committee for analyzing and assessing the socio-economical and educational condition and second research study done by the Amrish Dongre based on the Human Development Index survey. Based on the Narayan Rane committee report, on 25 Jun 2014, the Congress-NCP state government led by Prithviraj Chavan passed a law granting 16 percent reservation to Marathas in education and employment. This did not infringe on the reservation quota of the Other Back words classes (OBC) (PTI). But in Maharashtra, 52% of seats reserved for the different social and economic backward communities. If Maharashtra government provide the reservation that the reservation seats go on 52 to 68 plus 5% for the Muslims 73%.

After the 14 November 2014, Bombay High Court’s order to stay the reservation provides to Maratha community (News). Most of the political parties well aware of the 50% reservation limit. Only in the exceptional cases court will allow crossing the limit. In case of Maharashtra case 52% reservation already available. Backward castes defied in India based on those different communities known by the traditional occupation (Suri). Then why the Congress-NCP government pass reservation bill, and if they pass the reservation why they are unable to provide the strong evidence or data. Based on this questions some leaders from the Congress Government got cheated under the various criminal activities. People of Maharashtra angry at the government. There was less possibility to again government comes into the power for the next term. To getting support from the Maratha and from the Muslim community pass the reservation.