Chavan Cabinet clears 16 per cent quota for native Marathas

Mumbai: In a political masterstroke ahead of the Assembly elections, the Prithviraj Chavan Cabinet on Wednesday gifted the state's Maratha population 16 per cent quota in government jobs and educational institutions.

The Maharashtra Cabinet cleared the 16 per cent quota for the native Marathas in the state. It also approved 5 per cent reservation for the Muslim population.

The Chavan government had actually sought a 20 per cent quota.

Reservations already exist among OBCs for a section of Marathas, known as Kunbis. Maratha Kunbis, who are largely agriculturists, constituted 31.5 per cent of the population. They have a large presence in Vidarbha and Konkan.

At present, a total 356 backward castes get 19 per cent reservations, 51 scheduled castes and tribes get 11 per cent and 11 other castes in the special backward category get 2 per cent.