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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Maratha quota stir poised for revival

Manoj Jarange issues August ultimatum as CM cites record certificate distribution Mumbai: Maharashtra is bracing for renewed political turbulence as the Maratha quota agitation threatens to engulf the state once again. Prominent activist Manoj Jarange Patil has sounded a clarion call for a final, decisive protest beginning August 29, marking the third anniversary of the community’s relentless struggle. In stark contrast, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stepped in to defuse the escalating...

Maratha quota stir poised for revival

Manoj Jarange issues August ultimatum as CM cites record certificate distribution Mumbai: Maharashtra is bracing for renewed political turbulence as the Maratha quota agitation threatens to engulf the state once again. Prominent activist Manoj Jarange Patil has sounded a clarion call for a final, decisive protest beginning August 29, marking the third anniversary of the community’s relentless struggle. In stark contrast, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stepped in to defuse the escalating tensions, asserting that the government remains highly responsive to the community’s demands and that the pendency of caste certificates is virtually negligible. Addressing a massive press conference at Antarwali Sarati in the Jalna district of Marathwada, Jarange Patil expressed deep frustration with the state administration. He accused the government of deliberately deceiving the Maratha community and employing delaying tactics. According to the activist, the state has discovered approximately 58 lakh Kunbi caste records, yet the administration continues to withhold vital Kunbi certificates from eligible Maratha community members. Issuing a stern ultimatum, he demanded that caste certificates based on the Hyderabad gazette be issued to all rightful beneficiaries by August 28. Failing this, he warned, a massive mobilization will commence from every village across the state starting August 19. He passionately stated that the community has been sacrificing its blood for the youth for three years and will not back down until the issue reaches a logical conclusion. Robust Defence Countering these allegations, CM Fadnavis presented a robust defence of the Mahayuti government’s track record while speaking to the media in Nagpur. He emphasised that caste certificates are processed and issued promptly upon request. He firmly stated that everyone who has applied for a caste certificate has received it, adding that the number of pending cases is exceedingly low. Fadnavis dismissed the notion that certificates are being arbitrarily denied, reinforcing that the current administration has made and executed more pro-Maratha decisions than any previous government. He maintained a conciliatory tone, noting that the administration remains open to dialogue and is willing to find constructive solutions if any genuine grievances persist. Progress Report The state government’s claims are corroborated by the latest progress report from the Justice Sandeep Shinde committee, which was established to oversee the distribution of Maratha-Kunbi, Kunbi-Maratha, and Kunbi certificates. As of July 27, 2026, the data from the Divisional Commissionerate in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar paints a picture of swift administrative action in Marathwada. Out of a total of 311,609 applications received, a staggering 311,033 applicants have been successfully issued Kunbi certificates. Only 515 applications faced rejection, while a mere 61 remain pending across the division. Furthermore, officials noted that 72,012 certificates have been distributed in the region from September 2025 to the present date. A district-wise analysis of the Marathwada region highlights this extensive distribution network. In Beed district, the administration achieved a near-perfect clearance rate, distributing 206,789 certificates against 206,799 applications, with zero pending files currently. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar saw 25,211 certificates issued from 25,295 applications, leaving only 15 pending. Similarly, Jalna district processed 18,128 applications to distribute 18,053 certificates, with just 13 awaiting approval. Parbhani and Hingoli districts reported the distribution of 20,832 and 13,286 certificates, respectively, with negligible pendency. Nanded district cleared all its 4,841 applications with no backlog, while Latur and Dharashiv districts successfully distributed 2,751 and 19,281 certificates, respectively. Demands’ Charter Despite these administrative milestones, Jarange Patil has expanded his charter of demands, intensifying his critique of the state’s welfare mechanisms. He has now called for the creation of a dedicated Maratha welfare department, questioning why the Maratha community cannot have a separate ministry similar to the one existing for OBCs. He alleged that nine ministers in the current coalition are actively opposing this proposal, threatening to expose their names during the mega rally on August 29. Furthermore, he lashed out at the government over the systemic failure in implementing existing welfare schemes. He claimed that despite official resolutions granting Maratha students parity with OBC students, educational institutions are not enforcing these benefits at the school and college levels. He also accused the state of shutting down initiatives under the Sarathi institute and noted that flawed loan processes under the Annasaheb Patil Corporation are turning into bad debts, effectively ruining the CIBIL scores of young entrepreneurs. Capping off his grievances, Jarange Patil alleged a discriminatory bias in government recruitment, questioning the state administration over what he termed an “apartheid” against Maratha candidates.

The Hidden Cost of Care: Biomedical Waste in Hospitals

Every hospital admission, no matter how small, generates waste. As India’s healthcare sector grows, so does the urgency to manage biomedical waste responsibly.

In my last week‘s article, I discussed Sunita’s hospitalisation and the subsequent generation of biomedical waste. Her treatment involved intravenous administration of drugs. So a plastic IV set was used. After the procedure was complete, the IV set was discarded in the trash bin. The drugs worked, and she was discharged from the hospital in a couple of days.


However, if she had had further complications and if surgery were to be performed, much more waste would be generated. Sunita is just a representative example. Just like her, whenever any patient is admitted to the hospital for treatment, waste generation begins.


The type and the volume of waste generated depend on the nature of the treatment prescribed by the concerned doctors. However, the quantity of waste also relies on the growth of the healthcare sector.


So, let us first review this sector.


In India, the healthcare sector has become one of the largest sectors, both in terms of revenue and employment. As of FY24, this sector has employed 7.5 million people. In the current year, the CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) is expected to rise to 22.5 per cent, up from 17 per cent in 2022.


The government aims to develop India as a global healthcare hub. The Indian healthcare market, which was valued at US$ 110 billion in FY16, is now projected to reach US$ 638 billion by FY25. India’s public expenditure on healthcare is expected to be 1.9 per cent of GDP in FY26, compared to 2.5 per cent in FY25, as per the Economic Survey 2024-25.


The sector is witnessing unprecedented growth. Private equity and venture capital investments surpassed US$ 1 billion in the first five months of FY24, marking a 220 per cent increase from the previous year.


India benefits from the availability of a large pool of well-trained medical professionals. This sector is anticipated to grow further, creating over 6.3 million additional jobs by 2030.


The government has allocated Rs. 99,858 crore (US$ 11.50 billion) to the healthcare sector in the Union Budget 2025–26. This allocation is meant for the development, maintenance, and enhancement of the country’s healthcare system. It reflects a 9.78 per cent increase from the previous allocation of Rs. 90,958 crore (US$ 10.47 billion) in FY25. To boost the country’s healthcare infrastructure, the Indian government is planning to introduce a credit incentive programme worth Rs 50,000 crores (US$ 6.8 billion).


Several factors are driving this growth, including rising income levels, an aging population, growing health awareness, and changing attitudes toward preventive healthcare.


There is also a significant increase in medical tourism. The lower cost of medical services in India attracts patients from around the world. To promote medical tourism, the government is extending the e-medical visa facility to citizens of 156 countries.


Moreover, India has emerged as a hub for R&D activities for international players due to the relatively low cost of clinical research.


Growing health awareness, precautionary treatments, and improved diagnostics are also leading to increased hospitalisations.


While we, the citizens and the government, should feel proud of the growth and revenue in the healthcare sector, we must not ignore the rising quantity of biomedical waste it generates.


More on this in my next article.

Until then, have a good weekend.

(Source: IBEF-India Brand Equity Foundation)


(The writer is an environmentalist.)

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