Maharashtra announces 1% quota for orphans in education, govt jobs

MUMBAI: The state government has issued an order providing 1% reservation for orphans in education and government jobs. Children who lost both parents before turning 18 would be eligible for jobs.
“The 1% reservation for orphans will be provided based on the total number of vacancies in jobs and the number of seats open for admission… Orphans will be divided in two same parts for those who are enrolled in private orphanages or government-run institutions and those who were brought up outside institutions, like at their relatives’ place,” said the GR issued on Thursday.
According to government estimates, around 800 children in the state lost both parents to Covid. In 2021, the cabinet led by Uddhav Thackeray had approved the quota. There are over 4,000 orphans in the state in orphanages alone.
Children living in an orphanage without information on about parents, siblings, close relatives, village, taluka have been classified as ‘A’. A child who lost both parents, has no caste certificate and is living in an orphanage will be ‘B’, and children who lost both parents before turning 18 but were brought up by relatives, especially paternal, will fall under ‘C’ category. Orphans will be eligible for concessions in age, tuition and exam fees along the lines of SC students. But orphans from ‘C’ will enjoy all concessions in education but will not be eligible for government jobs.