Mumbai: In Maharashtra, a 1% reservation scheme for orphans in government jobs and education was launched in 2018. The state government has made several major changes to it. Now, only children raised in orphanages run by the Women and Child Development Department will receive this reservation.
With this government decision, approximately 7,000 children from government-recognized orphanages (such as those under the Social Justice, Tribal Development, Education Departments, etc.) will be excluded from this scheme. The government says these changes are necessary to make the scheme transparent and free from fraud.
However, social workers and experts are calling it unfair. They say this will literally drive orphans onto the streets. So far, 765 people have been selected for government jobs under this reservation, but there are indications that the number of beneficiaries will decrease as the criteria are tightened.
What are the key changes:
Previously, this benefit was available for 1% of the total sanctioned positions, but now it will only apply to vacant positions. The government says this will truly provide orphan candidates with more opportunities and speed up recruitment.
Previously, children living in government-recognized orphanages were eligible. Now, only children raised in orphanages run by the Women and Child Development Department will be eligible. The prerequisites are the death of both parents and the presence of biological parents.
Orphans have been divided into two categories: institutionalized, meaning children living in orphanages. Non-institutionalized, meaning children living alone at home or with relatives. Reservation positions will be allocated between these two categories.
Parallel reservation will now be implemented in a standard, parallel manner, not like for disabled children. If there is only one position, institutionalized candidates will receive priority in one recruitment, and non-institutional candidates in the next. Orders have been given to maintain separate registers.
New conditions have also been added. If a selected candidate leaves the job, the next orphan on the waiting list will receive the opportunity. If an orphan candidate is not found, the position will not be carried forward to the next recruitment (previously, it was carried forward).
Social workers’ concerns:
Sneha (name changed), who has been working at an orphanage in Thane district for the past 10 years, stated on condition of anonymity that her institution currently houses 58 orphans. Since the institution is government-recognized, it receives subsidies. Due to the sudden change in the reservation policy, these children will no longer be considered orphans for higher education and jobs once they turn 18.
Dr. Sameer Chavan has been working for the past seven years to provide proper shelter to orphans under the age of 18. When asked about this, he said, “The number of orphans in Maharashtra is over 20,000. It is impossible to accommodate them all in institutions run by the Women and Child Development Department. Therefore, many orphans are likely to be deprived of their reservation rights.”
