Maharashtra budget: Development corporation set up for each backward group

MUMBAI: The Shinde-Fadnavis government is seeking to enhance its social outreach by announcing over half a dozen economic development corporations dedicated to groups and communities, mainly from the backward classes. Eight such corporations will be set up for communities, sects, social groups and workers from the unorganised sector such as taxi/auto drivers. Each corporation will get Rs 50 crore as share capital to begin with for implementing welfare schemes aimed at target groups.
"Jagdjyoti Mahatma Basaveshwar Economic Development Corporation will be set up for providing financial assistance to youth, educated unemployed and new entrepreneurs of Lingayat community for self-employment, Sant Kashiba Guru Youth Economic Development Corporation for Gurava Samaj, Raje Umaji Naik Economic Development Corporation for the Ramoshi community and Pailwan Kai. Maruti Chavan-Vadar Economic Development Corporation for Vadar community will be established under the Maharashtra State Other Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation," deputy CM and finance minister Devendra Fadnavis said in his budget speech. The Dhangar is a shepherd community largely settled in western Maharashtra, found in large numbers around Pune, Ahmednagar and Satara too. Lingayat sect members are predominant in border areas adjoining Karnataka in Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur and Latur too. The Gurava is a community of priests and are said to be politically influential. They are mostly in the Konkan region, an observer said. To reach out to the Dhangar community, which had backed the BJP in the 2014 and 2019 elections, Fadnavis announced setting up of cooperative development for sheep and goat farming in Ahmednagar.
"Maharashtra Sheep and Goat Cooperative Development Corporation will be established to provide interest-free loans of Rs 10,000 crore from the National Cooperative Development Corporation to the beneficiaries of Dhangar community and similar tribes for raising sheep and goats," Fadnavis said. The government also looked to reach out to its support base by announcing a new Goseva Commission. "The facilities of embryo fertilization will be enhanced to nurture indigenous breeds of cattle. The commission will be established for proper implementation and monitoring of the existing law," Fadnavis said.