Maharashtra Cabinet Approves Major Policies Ahead of Assembly Polls

The Maharashtra cabinet has approved several significant policies, including adding three Kunbi sub-castes to the OBC segment, continuing a milk subsidy, renaming Industrial Training Institutes, and establishing economic development corporations for Brahmin and Rajput communities. Additionally, it sanctioned a massive fund for a new expressway project.

The Maharashtra cabinet on Monday approved a proposal to include three Kunbi sub-castes in the Other Backward Classes category.

This move precedes the upcoming assembly polls in November and comes amid reservation demands from OBCs and Marathas.

The cabinet, led by Eknath Shinde, also decided to extend a Rs seven per liter subsidy for cow milk producers in the state.

A total of 24 decisions were made in the cabinet meeting chaired by Shinde, an official stated.

These decisions include adding Tilori Kunabi, Tillori Kunabi, and Ti-Kunabi sub-castes to the OBC segment and continuing the Rs 7 per litre milk subsidy starting October 1, which will burden the state treasury by Rs 965.24 crore.

The cabinet also approved renaming existing Industrial Training Institutes in the state, selecting names of social reformers like Babasaheb Ambedkar, Shahu Maharaj, and Annabhau Sathe, and RSS ideologue late Dattopant Thengadi for ITI in Arvi, Amravati district.

Additionally, the cabinet doubled the emoluments for sarpanchs and deputy sarpanchs, increased the annual fund for National Law colleges in Nagpur and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar from Rs 5 crore to Rs 7 crore, and approved the formation of the Parshuram Economic Development Corporation to aid underprivileged Brahmin students and youth.

Furthermore, the cabinet sanctioned the establishment of the Vir Shiromani Maharana Pratap Economic Development Corporation to support the Rajput community's academic and entrepreneurial needs, headquartered in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

An expenditure of Rs 14,886 crore was also approved for constructing a 205 km greenfield expressway linking Shirur (Pune) with Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, requiring 2,633 hectares of land acquisition, according to the official.

(With inputs from agencies.)