Mumbai, September 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
As Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil’s hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna entered its 10th consecutive day on Monday, the Maharashtra government issued four key Government Resolutions (GRs) and related directives covering education, financial assistance, scholarships and employment opportunities for Maratha, Kunbi and Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) communities.
The Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) has directed all divisional offices and universities across Maharashtra to implement educational concessions and benefits for Maratha students on par with those available to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category from the 2026-27 academic year.
The Higher and Technical Education Department has also sanctioned and released Rs 200 crore towards pending hostel maintenance allowances for students belonging to the Economically Backward Class (EBC), Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and SEBC categories. The allocation was approved through supplementary demands during the Monsoon Session of the state Assembly.
The Planning Department has revised the foreign scholarship scheme administered by the Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training and Human Development Institute (SARTHI), Pune, bringing it in line with the Social Justice Department’s policy.
Under the revised norms, tuition fees will be paid directly to foreign universities without an upper cap on the benefit amount. Students will also receive an additional annual living and contingency allowance of $1,500, or £1,100 for students studying in the UK. Selection will be based on a revised merit process linked to QS World University Rankings.
Separately, SARTHI has signed an MoU with the Institute of Driving Training and Research Services (IDTRS), Pimpri-Chinchwad, to provide specialised LMV, HMV and conductor training to 1,440 Maratha and Kunbi youth. The programme will begin on October 1, 2026, with a mandate to facilitate employment or self-employment for at least 1,000 beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil held a high-level meeting with divisional commissioners and district officials from Marathwada to accelerate verification of Kunbi records based on the Hyderabad Gazetteer.
The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district administration has uploaded all identified records on its official website for public access through mobile devices. Collectors in other districts have also been instructed to make the records available. Verified village-wise records are to be displayed on the notice boards of the respective Gram Panchayats for transparency.
Amid these developments, Jarange Patil appealed to Marathas across Maharashtra to reach Antarwali Sarati on September 12 for a crucial strategic meeting, asking supporters not to rush to Mumbai yet.
He called for participation from districts across the state, including Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Nanded, Sangli, Satara, Hingoli, Parbhani, Latur, Dharashiv, Beed, Jalna and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, stressing that people should attend the meeting physically rather than follow it from home.
Jarange Patil said the final date and plan for the proposed Mumbai march would be decided at the September 12 meeting. Arrangements including seating, LED screens and sound systems are being made to accommodate crowds ranging from thousands to lakhs.
Blaming Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for the continuing tensions, Jarange Patil said the agitation was directed against the Maharashtra government and not the police. He appealed to protesters to remain peaceful and not target or harass police personnel.
He also urged demonstrators not to panic, flee or trigger stampedes in the event of police action. Jarange Patil warned that if any Maratha protester is injured during the movement towards Mumbai, a statewide Maharashtra Bandh would be enforced within 10 minutes.
The September 12 gathering is now expected to determine the next major phase of the Maratha quota agitation as pressure on the state government continues to mount.
FOLLOW NOW
