Mumbai

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced that the state will take positive steps to include the Dhangar community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category. He emphasized that these steps will be carefully managed to ensure they are legal and fair to all communities.

The Chief Minister held a meeting with the Dhangar Samaj coordination committee, addressing the community’s long-standing demand for ST status and the subsequent protests. Shinde also spoke with protesters over the phone to understand their concerns.

He acknowledged that the Dhangar community’s request has been pending for years and stressed that the process must follow legal procedures. Shinde committed to starting immediate follow-up actions at the secretariat level and to consulting the state’s Advocate General and the Law and Justice Department.

He directed the tribal development department, along with other relevant departments and committee members, to actively participate and address additional demands. The Chief Minister also instructed that a report be submitted to the Sudhakar Shinde committee, which is overseeing the inclusion process, as soon as possible.