Sanjay Rathod Urges Prime Minister to Implement “One Nation – One Reservation” Policy

New Delhi: Maharashtra Government’s Minister for Water and Soil Conservation, Mr. Sanjay Rathod, urged the Prime Minister to implement a “One Nation – One Reservation” policy on the lines of the “One Nation – One Election” model, in order to ensure justice for the Banjara community.

Presiding over the Sant Shri Sevalal Jayanti celebration held on February 28 at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, he stated that the Banjara community, numbering nearly 150 million across the country, is categorized differently in various states — as Other Backward Class (OBC) in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh; as Scheduled Tribe (ST) in Telangana; and as Scheduled Caste (SC) in Karnataka.

He emphasized that since the community follows a common language and shared cultural traditions across the nation, it is essential to implement a uniform national policy to ensure justice.

He further stated that if the Central Government establishes a “Tanda Development Corporation” immediately, it would bring a new wave of development to Tandas where the most backward sections of the community reside.

Inclusion of the Lambani language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution is highly necessary, and a consultation with experts is proposed to be held soon in Mumbai. The Maharashtra Government has allotted three acres of land for the Banjara community, and a foundation stone laying ceremony for the Banjara Bhavan is scheduled on April 8, marking World Banjara Day.

At Pauragarh in Maharashtra, a major spiritual center of the Banjara community, development works have been undertaken with a grant of ₹720 crore from the Maharashtra Government. The Banjara Cultural Centre has been inaugurated by the Prime Minister, and several development initiatives have been launched.

The Minister concluded by calling upon everyone to work collectively for the overall development of the community.