The Maharashtra government has decided to take action against 257 students from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category who, while claiming reservation benefits as Hindu tribal candidates, were found to be practicing religions other than Hinduism.

An official release stated that a committee formed to investigate this matter reported that, out of 13,858 students in the Scheduled Tribes category, 257 had registered under religions other than Hinduism.

This issue came to light during the 2023 Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) admission process when it was discovered that some students who had converted from tribal communities to other religions were still benefiting from reservations meant for tribals.

In response, Cabinet Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha ordered a comprehensive investigation during the 2023 Winter Session. "As a result of the special committee's findings, the Maharashtra Skill Development Department has decided to take action against the students involved. The committee's report has been forwarded to the state Tribal Development Department, which will be responsible for further proceedings and enforcement of necessary actions," the statement said. The Skill Development Department has decided to take appropriate action against these students, and the findings have been forwarded to the Tribal Development Department for further action.

The committee has proposed several measures aimed at preserving the culture, traditions, and practices of the tribal community, which have also been submitted to the Tribal Development Department.

Maharashtra government's move has sparked a debate on the impact of the misuse of the reservation by non-Hindus on the tribal development and welfare