Manoj Jarange’s Struggle Ends In ‘Victory’; How Marathas Will Benefit After Getting Kunbi Certificates

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange ended his 5-day hunger strike at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on Tuesday after the Maharashtra government assured him that it would issue Kunbi certificates to Maratha for reservation in jobs and education. The state government issued a Government Resolution (GR) implementing the Hyderabad Gazette to issue Kunbi status to Marathas of Marathwada.

 

After the implementation of the Hyderabad Gazette, the Marathas of Marathwada will be eligible to avail a reservation under the OBC category. Hyderabad Gazette will help Marathas to establish their Kunbi credentials and thereby entitle them to seek reservation.

 

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The Government Resolution underlines the framework for verification and issuance of Kunbi status. Maratha community members with historical evidence of their Kunbi heritage, a social group classified as an Other Backwards Class (OBC) in the state, will be able to avail a reservation.  

 

The three-member committee at the village level, comprising the gram revenue officer, gram panchayat secretary, and assistant agriculture officer, will check applications from the Marathas to prove their Kunbi heritage.

 

- Marathas from Marathwada can produce land documents, affidavits, or testimonies from relatives, clan members, or other villagers who already possess Kunbi certificates to prove their Kunbi identity.

 

- Applicants without land documents with have to provide affidavits proving that they or their ancestors resided in the locality before October 13, 1967.

Once the applicant’s Kunbi identity is established, competent authorities will issue Kunbi, Kunbi-Maratha, or Maratha-Kunbi caste certificates.

 

- Currently, Maharashtra has 62 per cent reservation, above the 50 per cent cap of the Supreme Court, in education and public employment.

 

- Out of 62 per cent overall reservation offered in the state, Other Backwards Classes (OBC) have a 19 per cent share in the total quota.

 

- Now, Marathas, after establishing their Kunbi identity, will be able to avail of reservation benefits under the OBC category. However, only Marathas with Kunbi lineage will be able to avail this benefit as Kunbi is classified as Other Backwards Class (OBC) in the state.  

 

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- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the Maratha community stands to benefit hugely, especially in the Marathwada region.