MUMBAI: Even as the Maratha quota issue simmers, the state government is taking care to ensure that the protests over the Dhangar (shepherd) quota do not intensify. The state cabinet on Wednesday appointed a high power committee (HPC) to oversee the implementation of schemes for the community.
The state government had announced 13 schemes for the Dhangar community in 2019 and a budget of 140 crores had been allocated for this in the recent budget.The HPC will monitor the implementation of the schemes. It will be headed by chief minister Eknath Shinde.
In September, activists of the Dhangar community held a two week protest in Ahmednagar. Chief minister Eknath Shinde had said the government would seek a report in one month on the process of providing ST reservation for the community. He also said the state would press the case in the legal case on this in the high court.
The Dhangars are classified as Nomadic Tribes and avail of 3.5% quota in Maharashtra but want the status of STs who are entitled to a 7% quota. Their leaders claim that a typographical error led to the community being called Dhangar in Maharashtra and Dhangad in other states, where they are classified as STs. The community which accounts for around 9% of the state’s population is very influential in at least four Lok Sabha constituencies of Western Maharashtra.
The state government had announced 13 schemes for the Dhangar community in 2019 and a budget of 140 crores had been allocated for this in the recent budget.The HPC will monitor the implementation of the schemes. It will be headed by chief minister Eknath Shinde.
In September, activists of the Dhangar community held a two week protest in Ahmednagar. Chief minister Eknath Shinde had said the government would seek a report in one month on the process of providing ST reservation for the community. He also said the state would press the case in the legal case on this in the high court.
The Dhangars are classified as Nomadic Tribes and avail of 3.5% quota in Maharashtra but want the status of STs who are entitled to a 7% quota. Their leaders claim that a typographical error led to the community being called Dhangar in Maharashtra and Dhangad in other states, where they are classified as STs. The community which accounts for around 9% of the state’s population is very influential in at least four Lok Sabha constituencies of Western Maharashtra.