New Delhi, July 11: The Centre is set to bring two sub-communities "Mahra" and "Mahara" of the state to the SC list which will be discussed in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament.

 

 

The "Mahra" and "Mahara" sub-groups of Chhattisgarh will be included in the SC list via a legislation that the Union social justice and empowerment ministry will bring in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament. It is learnt that the Union Cabinet cleared the proposal in its meeting on May 31, after the Resigtrar General of India and the National Commission for SCs gave their assent to the recommendation of the Bhupesh Baghel government.

 

According to the reports, this development took place as these communities were not recognized as Dalits because of "phonetic variation".

 

 

This development would be a huge relief for almost half of the Mahar population in Chhattisgarh which was deprived of the Dalit tag and got no reservations in jobs and education as also other affirmative action benefits available for SCs.

 

According to report y TOI, the Centre in 2002 assented to a proposal forwarded by undivided Madhya Pradesh in 1989, and issued a gazette notification including “Mahara” caste of MP in the list of SCs. Since Chhattisgarh was carved out of MP in 2000, the Centre ended up leaving out the community also present in Raipur and Bastar regions of the new state.

 

Though seemingly a tiny group, the “Mahra, Mahara” have electoral significance as they are said to be present in almost every assembly constituency of Bastar region in small numbers, which are good enough to tilt the scales.

As the bill is expected to sail through in Parliament, the population of Mahar community will almost double among the SCs.

 

The total SC population in Chhattisgarh stands at 32. 74 lakh, which is 12. 82% of state’s population. While the “Mahar, Mehra, Mehar” population is 2. 45 lakh, the “Mahra, Mahara”, which are to be included in the SC list now, number around 2 lakh.