Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde Orders District Collectors to Deploy Officials for Issuing Kunbi Caste Certificates to Marathas

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has ordered district collectors to deploy ten officials each to find old records on the basis of which Kunbi caste certificates can be given to the eligible Marathas. The decision was taken after activist Manoj Jarange went on an indefinite fast seeking reservation for the Marathas and demanded that they be given Kunbi caste certificates. The agrarian Kunbi community already gets quota benefits in the OBC category.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced on Thursday that every district collector in the state will be asked to deploy ten officials from the collectorate staff to find old records on the basis of which Kunbi caste certificates can be given to the eligible Marathas.

Appeal to Manoj Jarange and Other Protesters

This move comes in response to one of the demands of activist Manoj Jarange, who was on an indefinite fast seeking reservation for the Marathas. The agrarian Kunbi community already gets quota benefits in the OBC category. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Shinde said, "I will ask each district collector to deploy ten officials to find old records. No matter how many records are needed to be found, every eligible applicant should get a Kunbi caste certificate."

Efforts to Provide Legal Reservation

The state backward commission has already started work for Maratha reservation. We want to give reservation that will pass the legal test. Whatever errors were there in the previous reservation Act we will rectify and make a better draft, he said. The state government-formed committee headed by retired high court judge Sandeep Shinde has already found thousands of documents which will enable many people to get Kunbi caste certificates, he said.

Shinde Committee's Findings

"The Shinde committee quickly found more than 13,000 records. The state government will give a reservation to the Maratha community that will pass the legal test in the Supreme Court,” he said. I appeal to everyone sitting on fast for Maratha reservation to withdraw their protest. After Jarange announced the withdrawal of his fast, I hope others will follow suit, the CM said.

Efforts to Find Solution Through Discourse

The unrest and uncertainty in the state should not affect students facing their mid-term examination in the coming days, he said. We want to find a solution through discourse and discussion. I told Manoj Jarange the same thing. The state will work hard and try to get reservations for the Maratha community, the CM asserted.