Caste Census, Student Hostels: Maharashtra Minister Atul Save Discusses Key Concerns in Marathon Meeting with OBC Groups

Maharashtra’s OBC Welfare Minister Atul Save conducted a marathon meeting on Tuesday in Nagpur with representatives from 29 Other Backward Classes organisations. The meeting, which lasted nearly two hours, focused on addressing the long-standing concerns of the OBC, Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT), and Special Backward Class (SBC) communities. The discussions primarily revolved around education, reservation, and other critical concerns, with a focus on the demands raised by the OBC community leaders.

One of the key takeaways from the meeting was the announcement by Save regarding the reopening of state-run hostels for OBC students. He assured that these hostels, crucial for providing affordable accommodation to students, would be fully operational by October 6. The minister further reiterated the commitment of the Maharashtra government to resolving the pressing issues faced by the OBC community, emphasising that the state’s Mahayuti government was dedicated to delivering timely solutions.

The minister also addressed the demand for a caste-based census, which has been a significant point of contention for OBC organisations. Save gave assurances that the government was seriously considering this demand, signalling a possible positive outcome soon. Furthermore, he suggested that the benefits extended to social justice department-run hostels should also be made available to OBC-run hostels, aiming to ensure equal opportunities for students from the community.

During the meeting, the OBC organisations pressed for immediate action on a variety of issues. These included the implementation of the Dnyanjyoti Savitribai Phule scheme, which provides financial assistance to students from marginalised communities. The minister announced that starting from the 11th standard, students would receive these benefits, further widening access to education for poor groups.

Key officials present at the meeting included Rajesh Khawle, the Managing Director of the Mahajyoti scheme, Deputy Secretary of the OBC Bahujan Welfare Department Dinesh Chavan, and Director of the OBC Bahujan Welfare Department Dnyaneshwar Khillare. The meeting was initiated by Khemendra Katre of the OBC Rights Forum, who laid out the issues faced by the community and urged the government to take swift action.

Among the prominent demands raised during the session was the call to increase the number of scholarships available for OBC students seeking education abroad. The organisations proposed raising the number of scholarships to 200, providing greater support to students aiming to study overseas. Additionally, the community leaders requested the establishment of district-level offices dedicated to addressing OBC issues, along with the renaming of hostels to reflect their focus on serving OBC Bahujan students.

The dialogue covered a range of topics, from education and reservation to employment and the broader welfare of the OBC community. Several organisations, including the OBC Service Association, OBC Janmorcha, and the Students’ Rights Association of India, actively participated, bringing forth issues related to education and the challenges faced by students in accessing government benefits and securing reservations in government jobs.

Minister Save, acknowledging the importance of each concern raised, reassured the gathered leaders that the state government was committed to taking prompt action. He emphasised that the government would carefully consider every demand and ensure the swift implementation of policies that would benefit the OBC community.

As the discussions concluded, the representatives expressed cautious optimism, appreciating the government’s willingness to listen to their concerns. They hope that the solutions promised during this marathon meeting will translate into real, tangible improvements in the lives of OBC students and the broader community in Vidarbha.

During the last Lok Sabha election, it was seen that there was a clear divide between Maratha and OBC communities in the state. Maratha voters made sure that they wouldn’t vote for the OBC candidates due to which BJP faced humiliating defeat. OBC community is the traditional vote bank of the BJP and now resolving their issues on priority BJP is clearly making a statement that they stand firmly behind OBC when the state is boiling due to the Maratha Reservation issue.