MUMBAI: With the Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections just round the corner, the Vilasrao Deshmukh-led Democratic Front (DF) government is leaving no stone unturned in wooing the long forgotten Marathi people. After asserting to make Marathi compulsory language in schools, Deshmukh has decided to give preferences to the sons-of-the-soil in jobs in all industries.
Deshmukh on Tuesday asserted that at least 80 percent of the jobs in all small, medium and large-scale industries would be reserved for the sons-of-the-soil. He said that to ensure that state’s policy was implemented effectively, a statewide coordination committee under the development commissioner (industries) would be set up soon.
Speaking no different than the similar tones on the Marathi issue raised by the Shiv Sena and MNS leaders, Deshmukh said that the Marathi people should get preference in federal government jobs as also in the local private sector. “My government is doing all that it can do to accommodate as many Marathi-speaking people as possible,” Deshmukh said.
The decision assumes significance in wake of the struggle for preference to locals initiated by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray a few months back. Raj had send letters to 40,000 industrial units asking them to ensure that 80 percent of their employees were Marathi-speaking sons-of-the-soil.
Deshmukh said that local unemployed youths have always been given preferences in Maharashtra over outsiders. Also, as per the state government’s policy on employment, there is 80 percent reservation for local people in unskilled labor category while 50 percent reservation in supervisory category.
Deshmukh noted that it would be mandatory for these industries to recruit those who are residents of Maharashtra for the past 15 years. However, those who wish to avail of this scheme should produce either their school leaving certificate or a certificate issued by a competent authority or a certificate that proves that they are residents of Maharashtra since the last 15 years.
Meanwhile in related development, a day after a government resolution (GR) was passed giving preferences to locals in jobs in all industries, Raj has criticized the government, charging that the decision had nothing in store for the benefit of the “Marathi person.”
Even as the GR defines the eligibility as the domiciled residents of Maharashtra, Raj points out that a “local resident” was a “Marathi-speaking local.” “The government is silent on this issue,” said Raj. Raj, who has been instructed not to speak to the media, issued a press note on Tuesday, alleging that “outsiders” would, by illegal means, take advantage of the resolution.
