The hearing of Dedicated Commission for Reservation for Backward Class of Citizens in Local Bodies of Maharashtra on Saturday evoked good response as 115 delegations submitted their memorandum before the Commission. The representatives from six districts of Vidarbha — Nagpur, Chandrapur, Wardha, Gadchiroli, Bhandara and Gondia attended the hearing. The representatives of the organisations resorted to heavy sloganeering in the premises to show their strength. Chairman of the Dedicated Commission, former Chief Secretary of the State, Jayant Kumar Banthia (retired IAS); Member and Associate Professor of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Dr Shailesh Kumar Darokar; Dr Naresh Gite (retired IAS), former Principal Secretary, Mahesh Jhagde (retired IAS); former Principal Secretary, H B Patel; and Member Secretary of the Commission and Managing Director of Maharashtra Fisheries Development Corporation, Pankaj Kumar (IAS) conducted the hearing.

 

 

 

The Dedicated Commission was formed to look into the political backwardness in the local self-governing bodies in terms of backwardness of the citizens of the State. As per the directions of the Supreme Court, the Rural Development Department of the State Government, by notification published on March 11, 2022, has constituted the commission. The Commission held hearings in Amravati Division in morning hours, and Nagpur in afternoon hours. After submitting a memorandum, National President of Rashtriya OBC Mahasangh, Dr Babanrao Taywade, said, the demands, including the necessity of reservation to OBCs in the local bodies, were explained to the Commission. Shiv Sena spokesperson, Kishore Kanhere, who also submitted a memorandum to the Commission, stated that empirical data is needed for the reservation to OBCs. “The Commission should consider the demand of the OBC reservation in the local bodies on the basis of voters’ list,” he added. Adv Govind Bhendarkar, President of East Vidarbha Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, OBC Cell, stated, the demand has been raised for reservation in local self government as it is a more effective tool to achieve empowerment of weaker sections of the society.

 

The administration had appealed to organisations to register to submit their memorandums in the background of the Commission’s visit to Nagpur. A pandal was set up outside the Divisional Commissioner’s office. The delegations were allowed with Tokens issued from the pandal. The Commission members attended the delegations in three groups. While the Commission had set a time limit of 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm for submission of statements, considering the positive response from the citizens, the Commission commenced its work from 3.45 pm and the statements were accepted till late in the evening.

 

Maharashtra Prantik Tailik Mahasabha, Sonar Seva Mahasangha, Akhil Bharatiya Mali Mahasangha, All India De-Notified and Nomadic Tribes Welfare Sangha Delhi, Bari Samaj Nagpur, ex-corporator Sameem Akhtar Mohd Mushtaque, Nagpur City Congress Committee, Bahujan Samaj Party and others also submitted their memorandums for reservation to OBCs. The Dedicated Commission held discussions with senior officials in the administration. Divisional Commissioner Madhavi Khode-Chavre, Collector R Vimala, Municipal Commissioner Radhakrishnan B, Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Yogesh Kumbhejkar, Deputy Commissioner Asha Pathan, Deputy Collector of Elections Minal Kalaskar and other officials from the administration also were present.