Maha govt approves financial welfare schemes worth Rs 736 cr for OBCs, SC, ST

In a bid to reach out to backward castes ahead of crucial Lok Sabha and state assembly polls, the Maharashtra cabinet Tuesday approved schemes worth Rs 736.50 crore for the financial welfare of OBCs and the SC/ST communities. Another takeaway of Tuesday's Cabinet decisions is the government deciding, for the first time, to prepare a special scheme for the Wadar, Ramoshi and Pardhi castes that fall under Nomadic Tribes (NT) and Denotified Tribes category.

The Cabinet also approved eight different schemes to provide financial support in the forms of the individual loan, group loan and interest subvention to OBCs, SCs and STs, an official statement said. "The cabinet has approved that it would plan some schemes for the people from these (Wadar, Ramoshi and Pardhi) castes, which will be done soon," said a state government official. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier held meetings with the Ramoshi and Wadar communities in September and December last year. The state cabinet Tuesday also approved Rs 250 crore for the OBC corporation while a sum of Rs 300 crore has been allotted to the SC/ST corporation. The state government had earlier implemented 16 per cent reservation in jobs and education for the Maratha community.

(With inputs from agencies.)