Maharashtra government triples salaries of madrasa teachers, announces welfare measures for minority
Mumbai: In a move potentially aimed at appeasing the Muslim minority and backward communities ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, the Maharashtra BJP-led Mahayuti government announced several key initiatives in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday.
One of the significant decisions was the increase in salaries of madrasa teachers under the Zakir Hussain Madrasa Modernization Scheme. Primary madrasa teachers with D.Ed degrees will now receive Rs 16,000 per month, up from Rs 6,000, while secondary teachers with B.Ed degrees will see their pay rise from Rs 8,000 to Rs 18,000. The scheme encourages madrasas to integrate modern subjects like science, mathematics, sociology, English, Marathi, Hindi, and Urdu alongside religious studies.
Additionally, the government approved a proposal to raise the working capital of the Maulana Azad Financial Corporation from Rs 600 crore to Rs 1,000 crore. This increased capital will be used to provide financial assistance to the minority community for various purposes.
In another major decision, the cabinet also approved the formation of welfare cooperative boards for several communities, including Shimpi, Gavali, Lad Shakiya-Wani, Lohar, and Nam Panth. Each board will receive Rs 50 crore in investment capital for social and community activities.
The government also passed a resolution to request the Union government to raise the income limit for the ‘non-creamy layer’ category from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 15 lakh per year, allowing more individuals to benefit from reservation policies in the Other Backward Class (OBC) category.
The Maharashtra cabinet also approved a draft ordinance granting constitutional status to the Maharashtra State Scheduled Caste Commission. The ordinance, which is set to be tabled in the next legislative session, includes the creation of 27 new posts for the commission.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
