Maharashtra: BJP leader Padalkar demands budgetary provision for Dhangar community 
Key Highlights
- BJP leader Gopichand Padalkar writes a letter to Maharashtra Finance Minister Ajit Pawar
- BJP leader Gopichand Padalkar asks Maharashtra Finance Minister Ajit Pawar to make provisions for the Dhangar community in the state budget
- Padalkar said that the budgetary provisions initiated by Fadnavis Govt for Dhangar community have not been implemented by MVA
Mumbai: Ahead of presenting the state budget, BJP leader Gopichand Padalkar has written a letter to Maharashtra Finance Minister Ajit Pawar reminding him to make provisions for the Dhangar community.
The BJP MLC pointed out the failure of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government that could not spend Rs 1,000 crore meant for the community in the past two years.
In the letter, Padalkar said, “Dhangar community has contributed a lot in development of Maharashtra. They were at the forefront in fighting with the British. Maharaja Yashwantrao Holkar who belonged to Dhangar clan fought for the rights of the backward and oppressed. However, now the community is struggling for its rights for the past 30 years. And your government has failed to keep any promise with the community.”
Recalling the promise given by the community by earlier BJP government, Padalkar said that the then state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was the only one ‘who understood their problems’.
“In a major political change, Devendra Fadnavis government came to power in 2014. For the first time, he recognised the seriousness of the issue and assured them that the community would be entitled to 22 welfare schemes meant for tribals till they get the Scheduled Tribe certificate. He had immediately announced Rs 1000 crore and sanctioned Rs 500 crore.”
“The schemes included educational scholarships, hostels, measures to elevate social and economic status, housing benefits, etc… However, the government changed and not a single rupee has been spent on the Dhanagar community. Covid-19 pandemic, diseases of sheep and goats, lack of basic facilities at dwelling places of Dhanagar community have marred their economy,” he said.
Requesting the government to boost the morale of the community, the BJP leader said they need justice.
“Fadnvis government announced the schemes for them, now those schemes have only remained on paper during your tenure. There is anger in the community and that perhaps explode one day. I expect you to at least make some provisions for the community in the coming budget session and bring some relief in their present situation,” Padalkar added in the letter.