Dhangar reservation: Maharashtra puts ball in Centre's court

Decides to recommend quota for 10 million Dhangar community members under Schedule III of Constitution

The Congress-Nationalist Congress Party government in Maharashtra on Wednesday decided to recommend reservation for 10 million Dhangars (traditional shepherds) in the state under Schedule III of the Constitution of India. The proposed quota will be without disturbing the reservation currently given to Scheduled Tribes (STs)  in the state.

The decision in this regard was taken at the state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.

Pressure had been mounting on the government from various parties and groups to provide quota to Dhangars ahead of the Assembly election slated for October.

Wednesday’s decision comes after the government provided 16 per cent quota for Marathas and five per cent for Muslims in jobs.  

The Dhangars, who have a significant presence in 78 out of 288 Assembly seats, have argued that the reservation benefits that they get under the Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT) category are not enough and they should be enlisted in the ST category.

Various organisations representing the Dhangar community were pressing for their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes list, which enjoys seven per cent quota. Moreover, community members feel that they have been deprived of jobs in Union government services.

At the central level, the ST list includes “Dhangad” community, while Dhangars - with an ‘r’ — have been excluded.

On the other hand, senior ministers Madhukar Pichad and Padmakar Walvi have been at the forefront to oppose the inclusion of Dhangars into the ST category. According to them, tribals (Adivasis) fear that inclusion of Dhangars into ST category will eat into their quota.