Maharashtra Government to Take Action Against 257 Students
The Maharashtra government has identified 257 students from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category who were found to be practicing religions other than Hinduism while claiming reservation benefits meant for Hindu tribal candidates. This discovery was made during the 2023 Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) admission process.
Investigation and Findings
A committee was formed to investigate the matter, and it reported that out of 13,858 students from Scheduled Tribes, 257 had registered religions other than Hinduism. These students had converted from tribal communities to other religions but continued to avail benefits reserved for tribals.
Government Response
Cabinet Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha ordered a thorough investigation during the Winter Session in 2023. The Skill Development Department has decided to take necessary action against these students, and the report has been forwarded to the Tribal Development Department for further proceedings.
Preserving Tribal Culture
The committee has also proposed several measures to preserve the culture, traditions, and practices of the tribal community. These proposals have been submitted to the Tribal Development Department for consideration.
Doubts Revealed
Maharashtra Government -: Maharashtra is a state in India, and the government here refers to the group of people who make decisions and manage the state.
Tribal Reservations -: Tribal reservations are special benefits given to people from certain tribal communities in India to help them with education and jobs.
Scheduled Tribe -: Scheduled Tribes are groups of people in India who are recognized by the government as needing special help and protection.
ITI admission process -: ITI stands for Industrial Training Institute, where students learn skills for different jobs. The admission process is how students apply and get selected to study there.
Skill Development Department -: This is a part of the government that focuses on helping people learn new skills for jobs and improving their abilities.