The state backward class commission report based on its sample size of 43,629 families analysed the social, educational and economic backwardness of the Maratha community in the state. Their analyses showed some shocking outcomes. The absence of jobs, lack of education and depleting farm incomes is leading the community into a deadly abyss of sorts. On some indicators, the backwardness of the Maratha community currently classified in the open category was worse than the OBCs in the state.

A survey on the government jobs across the state show that out of the 14.27 lakh sanctioned posts, 10.96 are filled up of which nearly 2.09 lakh are held by the Marathas (19.07%), 1.44 lakh by SC (13.15%), 91,032 by ST (8.30%), 1.36 lakh by OBC(12.47%), 1.20 lakh by notified tribes (10.99%) and a whopping 5.74 lakh in the open category (52.39%).

Similarly, of the 1,195 posts, 665 posts were filled in various universities of which a whopping 394 (59.25%) are in the open category, 79 held by Marathas (11.88%), 120 (18.05%) by SC, 37 (5.56%) by ST, 49 (7.37%) by OBC and 58 (8.725) by notified tribes.

Further, of the total 2.98 lakh students, who were covered in the survey by the SBCC, 1.32 lakh (44.51%) were from the open category, 39,218 (13.16%) from Maratha, 6,866 (2.30%) from Special Backward Class, 78,068 (26.19%) from OBC.

An SCBC member, who did not want to be named, told DNA,'' Various Maratha organisations made a strong pitch for reservation in jobs and education while complaining about a growing divide between the youths from the community and those who hail from the Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes due to a number of scholarships and financial support offered by the state government to the latter in the education sector. Besides, they cited that the Maratha community youths could not go in for higher education due to resource crunch. However, those who managed to complete it remain jobless.'' He said organisations painted a bleak picture of generation next of farm labourers and small farmers who face twin problem of depleting land parcel and uncertainty over prices of farm produce.

SBCC has taken a note of the concern expressed by the Maratha organisations especially on the growing mismatch between the cost of production and the remunerative price which has caused indebtedness. Further, the SBCC in its report pointed out that despite the Maratha community's significant contribution in the state development, there is a centralisation of money and political power in the hands of few. On the other hand, a large number of members still are economically backward.

SHOCKING REVELATIONS