Pune: The State Backward Classes Commission has finalized the criteria for determining the backwardness of Other Backward Classes (OBC) about giving reservations to the Maratha community in the state. The criteria will be sent to the Gokhale Institute for sample testing and the report is expected in the next week. After the sample testing, a survey will be done and its report will be then presented to the state government.
Activist Manoj Jarange Patil has repeatedly warned the government to grant the reservation to Marathas under the OBC category. Thus the government had asked the SBC to work on a war footing. For social backwardness, seven criteria have been determined and 100 points have been allotted. For educational criteria, six criteria have been allotted 80 points, and for economic criteria, six criteria have been allotted 70 points, making a total of 250 points.
Social Criteria (100 points)
Caste/traditional occupation/handicraft/employment: 20 pointsWomen engaged in light work for livelihood (more than 5% of the state's average): 20 pointsMen engaged in light work for livelihood (more than 5% of the state's average): 20 pointsUnfavorable social and cultural environment for development: 10 pointsChild marriage takes place (more than 5% of the state's average for men and more than 10% for women): 10 pointsSuperstitious practices and beliefs are found: 10 pointsPractices that denigrate the status of women are exercised: 10 points
Economic Criteria (70 points)
families below the poverty line (more than 25% of families in the state): 20 points30% percent of people living in kutcha houses which is declared so according to Grampanchayat: 10 pointsPercentage of marginal landholding families (more than 10% of state average): 10 pointsPercentage of landless families (more than 10% of state's average): 10 pointsLack of educational institutions, industrial establishments, or other sources of employment: 10 pointsPercentage of families with outstanding consumption loans (more than 25% than the state average): 10 points
Educational Criteria (80 points)
Percentage of students studying from Class 1 to 10 (less than 10% of the national average): 10 pointsDropout rate of girls from Class 1 to 10 (20% more than state average): 20 pointsPercentage of students passing Class 10 (20% less than state average): 10 pointsPercentage of students passing Class 12 (20% less than state average): 10 pointsPercentage of students pursuing graduation, post-graduation, or equivalent education (10% less than state average): 10 pointsPercentage of students pursuing professional courses such as law, medicine, engineering-technology, chartered accountancy, management, and doctoral studies (20% less than the state average): 20 points
Survey to be conducted by the Gokhale Institute, PuneThe institute will submit its report to the commission within a week. They will take the help of government officials in the state and the work will be finished in 15-20 days. The commission will then prepare a final report based on the institute's report and submit it to the state government.
Chandralal Meshram, a member of the MBCC, said that the survey will be conducted based on the criteria set by the commission. He added that the report will be submitted to the state government within a month.