Maharashtra Cabinet approves minority status to Jewish community - Read to know the benefits

Mumbai: In a big achievement for the small Jewish population in the state, the Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday approved minority status to this community.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the state Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

"Maharashtra Cabinet approves minority status to Jew community. This decision will benefit students from these communities to avail scholarships from the state government and setting up of educational institutions," Fadnavis said.

Maharashtra Cabinet approves minority status to Jew community. This decision will benefit students from these communities to....
/1 — CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) June 21, 2016

... avail scholarships from State Govt and setting up of educational institutions.
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— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) June 21, 2016

The move, which was announced by then Maharashtra Minority Affairs Minister Eknath Khadse, is expected to make life easier for members of the community in the state.

Mainly, the Jewish students will get most of the benefit of this announcement as from now they will be able  to avail scholarships from State government.

According to 2001 Census, the number of Jews living in India was 4,650 with 2,466 of them living in Maharashtra. 

However, Principal Secretary of Minority department, Jayashree Mukherjee said the state government has no official record of the number of people from the community in Maharashtra.

After getting the minority status, the Jews in the state will be entitled to use benefits of government schemes meant for minorities and can also apply in educational institutions under the minority status.

The people of this community would now be able to easily get their marriage registrations done in Maharashtra.

The Jewish people living in the state would now also be able to set up their own educational institutions and practice and promote their culture.

The Jews have been a part of the Indian society for over 2,300 years now.

At present, there are six notified minority communities in India - Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, Parsis and Jains.  

The Jews of Manipur and Mizoram identify themselves as Beni Menashe. There are also some in Andhra Pradesh who call themselves Bene Ephraim Jews.

India is one of the few countries in the world where Jews have never faced any harassment or persecution. 

The Cabinet also approved setting up of Counter insurgency and Anti-Terrorist School at Surabuldi, Nagpur.

Maharashtra Cabinet approves setting up of Counter insurgency and Anti-Terrorist School at Surabuldi, Nagpur.
/1 — CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) June 21, 2016

This will provide state-of-the-art training facilities to police department for jungle and field tactics, map reading, ambush and handling of different weapons.

Centre and Maharashtra government will jointly contribute funds for this school. The Cabinet also sanctioned creation of various posts for this school.

Furthermore, the Cabinet approved handing over of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital from Ichalkaranji Municipal Council to the state government.

It also decided to hand over 1440 sq mt of govt land to Gondia Municipal Council for construction of a 'Samaj Bhavan'.

Maharashtra Cabinet decides to hand over 1440 sq.mt. of Govt land to Gondia Municipal Council for construction of Samaj Bhavan.
/1 — CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) June 21, 2016

"Cabinet considers this decision as a special case and the government fulfilled its assurance given on the floor of the house," Fadnavis tweeted.

Cabinet considers this decision as a special case and Govt fulfilled its assurance given on the floor of the house.
/2 — CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) June 21, 2016

The meeting approved giving wages to employees from Industrial & Labour Courts, Commissionerate of workmen's compensation & wages board, Mumbai as per Shetty Commission recommendations and the difference of wages would be paid in two equal instalments.