OBC Vidarbha Mandal Yatra Begins from Bhandara, Demands Caste-Based Census Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar launched the OBC Vidarbha Mandal Yatra from Bhandara on Monday, marking the start of a five-year initiative organized by Sakal OBC Mahamorcha. The event, which will traverse 11 districts of Vidarbha, focuses on advocating for the implementation of the Mandal Commission’s recommendations and addressing systemic injustices faced by Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Maharashtra and beyond. Wadettiwar, who participated in the yatra in his capacity as an OBC community member, emphasized the need for a caste-based census at the central government level, akin to the processes for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The yatra’s primary demands include the establishment of a dedicated ministry for OBCs, increased financial allocation for OBC welfare institutions, and the immediate filling of a backlog of 100,000 OBC posts. Wadettiwar highlighted the disparity in funding, stating that despite the significant population of OBCs in the state, their share of resources remains equivalent to that of other communities. He specifically cited the Mahajyoti, Maharashtra’s OBC welfare corporation, which he argued should receive at least Rs 1,000 crore annually to address the community’s needs. Another key demand centers on educational equity, particularly the “open to open” policy for merit-based seats. Wadettiwar criticized the policy for restricting OBC students from competing in open category seats, even if they meet the required academic thresholds. He provided an example, noting that a student with 125 marks should qualify for open category admission regardless of caste, while OBC students with the same score are often denied this opportunity.#vijay_wadettiwar #vidarbha #obc_vidarbha_mandal_yatra #sakal_obc_mahamorcha #mahajyoti
