Pune: Survey on Maratha Community Backwardness Hits Roadblock As Server Crashes

Pune, 23rd January 2024: The Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission initiated a survey today to ascertain the backwardness of the Maratha community. However, the survey encountered an obstacle on the first day as the server responsible for conducting the survey crashed in the afternoon. The survey aims to provide evidence of the community’s backwardness as part of ongoing discussions about their reservation status in education and jobs.

In Maharashtra, there has been an ongoing agitation for the inclusion of the Maratha community in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category for reservations in education and jobs. However, the Maharashtra Government has proposed separate reservations for the Maratha community, a move that has not been accepted by certain factions. Protests and demands for OBC status continue, with Manoj Jarange Patil leading a march and planning to fast in Mumbai in opposition to the government’s stance.

In response to the demands and protests, the Maharashtra Government directed the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission to survey to assess the backwardness of the Maratha community. The survey, scheduled from January 23 to January 31, involves reaching out to 12 lakh families in the city, with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) deploying 2,000 employees for the task.

While the survey started well in the morning session, technical issues arose in the afternoon when the server designed to conduct the survey crashed. The app used for data collection faced slowdowns and interruptions, leading to a halt in the information collection process. Enumerators reported the issues to their supervisors, but immediate resolution was not achieved.

Challenges Encountered During the Survey Process

1. Internet Connectivity: If the internet connection is lost during the application form filling, the process needs to be restarted from the beginning.
2. GPS Drain on Mobile Battery: Enumerators are required to keep the mobile’s GPS on, leading to quick battery drainage.
3. Power Bank Availability: The lack of power banks for charging poses challenges during the survey.
4. Technical Support: Supervisors lacking technical knowledge create delays in addressing enumeration problems.

PMC Commissioner Vikram Kumar acknowledged the technical issues faced during the survey. He mentioned that the survey progressed well in the morning but encountered problems in the afternoon due to server slowness. The technical team is working to resolve the issues and ensure the smooth continuation of the survey on the Maratha community’s backwardness.