Members of the Lingayat community gathered in large numbers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk, Vashi, to protest against what they termed as systemic exclusion from state-sponsored development schemes.
The protest, organised by the Sakal Lingayat Samaj, was held on Wednesday. The protest was conducted to call for the immediate establishment of a dedicated economic development corporation catering to the entire Lingayat population in Maharashtra.
Protesters highlighted that while several communities in the state have been granted independent corporations with significant funding for their social, cultural, and economic development, the Lingayat community has been unfairly sidelined. "Currently, the Jagatjyoti Mahatma Basaveshwar Economic Development Corporation operates under the OBC Welfare Development Board, but its benefits are accessible only to about 5% of the Lingayat populationthose classified under the OBC category. The remaining 95%, who fall under the Open (General) category, are left without access to these schemes," said a member.
Activists also pointed out that the Rs 50 crore allocated to the current corporation is grossly insufficient to run large-scale welfare programs. "Despite repeated appeals in the state legislature by community leaders, social organizations, and legislators from both ruling and opposition parties, no steps have been taken to establish a separate corporation that includes all Lingayat sub-sects,"said the member.
The protesters demanded the creation of a fully independent Jagatjyoti Mahatma Basaveshwar Lingayat Economic Development Corporation, with a minimum budget allocation of Rs 500 crore. They stressed that this corporation should benefit all Lingayat sub-castes, including Hindu-Lingayat, Hindu-Lingayat (Vani), Jangam, Teli, Mali, Pancham, Banjage, and others.
The community has stated of intensifing statewide agitations if their demands remain unmet.
