Mumbai, Sep 10 (NationPress) Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, representing the Nationalist Congress Party, cautioned against issuing fake Kunbi caste certificates to members of the Maratha community.

He highlighted the negative impact on OBCs stemming from the government resolution (GR) dated September 2, which aims to grant Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas.

During a cabinet subcommittee meeting led by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Bhujbal urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to retract the GR that confers Kunbi status upon Marathas, stating, "With the GR now in place, we find ourselves powerless. If this matter isn't addressed, we may have to resort to legal action."

As the founder of Samata Parishad, Minister Bhujbal remarked on the substantial funds allocated to the Maratha community in recent years.

He expressed concern that, despite the existence of various castes within the OBCs, the financial support they receive is minimal. "In the past two decades, OBCs have received scant funding, while the Maratha community has been the recipient of significant financial aid in just the last few years," he stated.

Minister Bawankule informed the media that the committee believes Maratha caste should not be categorized under OBC and that the community should not receive Kunbi caste certificates.

He suggested implementing a 100% scholarship scheme for OBC students pursuing vocational training and increasing the number of scholarships for talented students seeking higher education abroad from 75 to 200.

Additionally, the need for OBC reservation in housing projects by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) and the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO) was emphasized.

Bawankule also advocated for initiatives to provide complete concessions for OBC, SC, ST, and Special Backward Class farmers, similar to those available to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

A proposal for allocating Rs 1,000 crore to the OBC Economic Development Corporation was mentioned.

Bawankule assured, "There will be no injustice to OBCs; false documentation will not be tolerated. OBCs are apprehensive about potential injustices. However, we aim to ensure that only those with verified Kunbi records receive certificates, following thorough documentation checks by the Sub-Divisional officers."

He noted that there are 353 castes within the OBC community and all should be treated equitably.

"The OBC department has yet to receive Rs 3,688 crores, causing the suspension of Rs 1,200 crore worth of scholarships. Measures must be taken to rectify this. Proposals were made to the Cabinet Sub-Committee for constructing hostels and providing necessary office spaces for government functions. Furthermore, it was stressed that Maratha Kunbi certificates should not be issued based on fraudulent documentation," he added.

Minister Pankaja Munde also reiterated the importance of assessing the social standing of the Maratha community, advocating for verification of documents before issuing reservation certificates.

Bawankule concluded that a plan should be established to provide loans to OBC youth, mirroring the Annasaheb Patil Arthik Magas Vikas Mahamandal to support their employment and business endeavors.

Moreover, it was suggested that recommendations from the previous cabinet subcommittee led by Minister Bhujbal be reviewed in the next meeting.

--ANS

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