Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jun 6: In a significant move aimed at strengthening educational support for the Maratha community, the Maharashtra government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has approved a range of educational concessions and welfare measures on par with those available to Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
Under the decision, Maratha students will become eligible for several scholarships, reimbursements and educational assistance programmes currently extended to OBC students. The government has approved eight major schemes that are expected to benefit thousands of students pursuing secondary, higher secondary, professional and vocational education within and outside Maharashtra.
Officials said the move is intended to improve access to education and ease the financial burden on students and their families.
As part of the policy, eligible Maratha students will receive benefits under the post-matric scholarship scheme for studies beyond Class 10. They will also be covered under scholarship programmes for secondary and higher secondary education.
The government has further decided to extend benefits under the Motor Vehicle Driver and Conductor Training Scheme, enabling students and youth from the community to acquire vocational skills and improve employment prospects.
Maratha students will also be eligible for various reimbursement schemes covering educational expenses and academic support. The benefits will extend to students from Maharashtra who secure admission to aided and unaided professional courses in other states.
In another key provision, all educational courses presently covered under OBC educational concessions will now be available to Maratha students as well.
The decision also covers students admitted to vacant seats through institution-level admissions after completion of the Centralised Admission Process (CAP), provided such admissions are approved by the relevant regulatory authorities.
The government has clarified that any educational concession or facility currently applicable to OBC students, or introduced in the future, will automatically be extended to the Maratha community until further orders.
Experts believe the decision will widen access to higher education, technical courses and professional programmes while reducing educational costs for many families. The move is also expected to encourage greater participation in skill-development and vocational training programmes.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of the long-running Maratha reservation debate, one of Maharashtra's most prominent socio-political issues in recent years. While legal and constitutional discussions on reservation continue, the latest decision focuses specifically on educational welfare and student support.
Political observers believe the measure could strengthen the government's outreach among Maratha youth and address longstanding demands for greater educational assistance from the community.