OBC sub-committee recommends increasing non-creamy layer limit to Rs 15 lakh

Priyanka Kakodkar

Mumbai: The state cabinet sub-committee for OBCs, which met on Monday, has recommended raising the non-creamy layer limit from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 15 lakh and directed that a meeting be held with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on the issue.

Incidentally, in Oct 2024, when assembly polls were due in Maharashtra, the state cabinet had decided to send the same recommendation to the Centre. However, the fact that the cabinet sub-committee has raised the same issue suggests that the issue did not move forward.

The sub-committee headed by state revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule of the BJP also said that the names of 43 castes not included in the Central govt’s list of OBCS have been submitted to the National Backward Classes Commission.

Various technical and policy issues were reviewed in the meeting. These include settling of pending cases from the caste verification committee as per a high court decision, resolving the issue of educational concessions for OBC students and appointments in various corporations on a priority basis and strengthening the State Backward Classes Commission.

Bawankule said that a meeting of district magistrates will be held next week to provide space for hostels and offices in 10 districts.

Activist Laxman Hake, who was present at the meeting, drew attention to the administrative errors. “Due to spelling mistakes, 27 to 32 castes in the state are deprived of government benefits, and a proposal should be sent to the Central government for immediate correction,” he demanded.