Now Reading: Maharashtra to allot ₹1 land for Nomadic Tribe communities
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Maharashtra to allot ₹1 land for Nomadic Tribe communities
The Maharashtra government will allot land at a nominal ₹1 to ensure permanent rehabilitation of Nomadic Tribe (NT) communities, revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced. He directed officials to prepare proposals and set October 29 as the deadline for identifying locations. The cabinet sub-committee on OBC, VJNT and SBC development took the decision at its seventh meeting on Wednesday (21 October).
The move has political weight as Dhangars and Vanjaris, prominent NT communities, have long demanded Scheduled Tribe status, which would double their reservation from 3.5% to 7%. Bawankule said the initiative aims to shift vulnerable communities from temporary encampments to permanent housing. Forest minister Ganesh Naik suggested drone surveys for fodder availability and called for addressing a 9% recruitment backlog. Food minister Chhagan Bhujbal flagged funding disparity, noting Sarathi receives ₹1,484 crore while Mahajyoti, serving 59% OBC students, gets ₹288 crore.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The ₹1 land allotment targets a core material grievance of Nomadic Tribe communities: insecure housing. But the political calculation is wider. The same cabinet sub-committee that took this decision was formed after the Maratha quota agitation, and its members include OBC leaders who have publicly resisted any reservation cut. The move lets the government show delivery on OBC welfare without touching the reservation quota. The October 29 deadline for site proposals is the concrete next step: the speed of implementation will determine whether this remains a policy announcement or becomes actual rehabilitation.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
