Bawankule sets October 29 deadline for proposals; separate VJNT budget and shepherd grazing issues discussed

 Mumbai: The Maharashtra government plans to provide land at a nominal cost of Rs 1 to facilitate the permanent rehabilitation of nomadic and denotified tribes living in temporary settlements and pal camps. Revenue Minister and chairman of the Cabinet sub-committee on Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Chandrashekhar Bawankule, has directed officials to prepare a proposal urgently and place it before the state Cabinet for approval.

Expressing strong displeasure over delays in implementing decisions taken at earlier meetings, Bawankule directed the concerned departments to submit proposals for identifying land by October 29. He criticised officials for failing to act on instructions and for not submitting the required proposals within the stipulated time.

The directions were issued at the seventh meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee constituted to address the social, educational and economic development of Other Backward Classes, Vimukta Jatis and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT), and the Special Backward Category. The meeting was held at Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai under Bawankule’s chairmanship.

Ministers Chhagan Bhujbal, Ganesh Naik, Pankaja Munde, Gulabrao Patil, Atul Save and Sanjay Rathod, along with senior officials from various departments, attended the meeting.

Bawankule stressed the need to provide caste certificates and other essential documents to members of nomadic and denotified communities, while ensuring permanent rehabilitation through the development of residential settlements. He expressed concern that the proposals required to provide land at a nominal price had not been submitted despite earlier directions.

The meeting also reviewed the grazing rights and fodder requirements of shepherds across the state. Under an existing government resolution, sheep grazing has been legally permitted from June to September in 21 forest divisions. In another 27 divisions where forest land is unavailable, officials have been directed to identify grazing areas in accordance with local conditions.

Forest Minister Ganesh Naik suggested conducting drone surveys to assess fodder availability, particularly in view of the shortages that can arise during droughts. He also proposed using funds from the District Planning and Development Committees (DPDCs) to arrange fodder for livestock. The meeting further discussed the nine per cent backlog in government recruitment and the need for urgent measures to address economic disparities.

Funding for the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Research and Training Institute, known as Mahajyoti, and other backward-class corporations came up for discussion. Officials informed the meeting that Mahajyoti’s beneficiaries comprise 59 per cent OBC students, 10 per cent students from Vimukta Jatis, 25 per cent from Nomadic Tribes (categories B, C and D), and six per cent from the Special Backward Category.

Bhujbal expressed concern over the reported disparity in allocations, pointing out that the Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training and Human Development Institute (SARTHI) had received 1,484 crore, compared with 288 crore for Mahajyoti. He called for funding to be distributed equitably among the institutions according to prescribed criteria and urged the government to release the sanctioned amounts without delay.

In response, Bawankule said the entire 600 crore budgetary allocation had been disbursed. He assured the meeting that the budgetary provision would not be reduced and that he would discuss the possibility of additional funding with the Chief Minister. A proposal to create a separate budget for the VJNT category was also discussed.

Other Backward Bahujan Welfare Minister Atul Save said OBC student hostels should not be clubbed together and that office premises must remain separate from student accommodation. He warned that the concerned department would be held responsible for delays in implementing decisions.

The administration also informed the meeting that the process of purchasing 11,455 square feet of space at the CIDCO Belapur railway station complex in Navi Mumbai for corporations and their subsidiary organisations was in its final stage.