Mumbai's dabbawalas seek reservation for Maratha community

Mumbai's famed dabbawallas (lunch box carriers) may end up delivering the goods in an area which they never did in the last 125 years of their operations in the bustling megapolis -- politics.
Mumbai Jevan Dabbe Vahatuk Mandal, whose members deliver lunch boxes to scores of office workers in the city, announced a rally here today to demand reservation for the Maratha community in education and jobs, in Maharashtra.
"Our forefathers fought as soldiers in the army of Shivaji Maharaj. However, due to paucity of jobs, our four generations have been forced to join the tiffin courier trade since there are no employment opportunities available," Subhash Talekar, a spokesperson for the organisation said.

"We don't have any grudge against other sections of society who got benefits of the reservation policy. They have enjoyed the prosperity which quotas ushered in and we wish that our children also should have the same," he said.
MLC Vinayak Mete, whose outfit Shiv Sangram, which is fighting for reservation for the Maratha community, said that the ruling Congress-NCP would face dire consequences in the forthcoming assembly elections if the demand was not met.
Mete, who was issued a show cause notice for anti-party activity by the Nationalist Congress Party (from whose quota he was elected to the Legislative Council), said that even Sharad Pawar wants the Maharashtra government to take a quick decision on reservations for the Maratha caste, to avoid a rout in the assembly elections.

A meeting of dabbawalas, who have pledged their support to Shiv Sangram, would be organised in Mumbai on May 9 to demand reservation for the Maratha community, Mete said.