The A, B, C, D Of The Dalit Quota

In what may lead to a churn in Maharashtra politics, Hindu Dalit organisations have launched a stir seeking a division in the quota for scheduled castes (SCs).

- Dhaval Kulkarni

Currently, SCs get 13 per cent reservations in education and jobs. Hindu Dalit organisations are alleging that the Buddhist Dalits-erstwhile members of the Mahar community who converted to Buddhism with Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in 1956-have secured most of the benefits from these quotas at the cost of other groups. They believe that ring-fenced categories, or a system of quotas within the larger SC reservation, will protect their interests. Buddhist Dalit leaders are opposed to any such idea.

In Maharashtra, the SC category has 59 castes listed under it, and Buddhist Dalits form the highest numbers among them. In all, the SCs constitute around 13 per cent of the state's population.

The discontent is spilling out into the streets. On February 22, organisations of the Matang community held a protest in Mumbai to press for this demand.

Fakira Ukarande, working president, Mumbai, Akhil Bharatiya Matang Sangh, said that they want the present 13 per cent SC quota to be divided into four sub-categories-A, B, C and D. He asked that the state government approve this demand in the budget session of the legislature and send it to the Union government for approval, failing which the community would intensify its protests.