The Maharashtra government on Tuesday granted the Jewish community minority status after discussing it in a Cabinet meeting.
The Maharashtra government on Tuesday granted the Jewish community minority status after discussing it in a Cabinet meeting. The state government said the Jewish community could now avail benefits like scholarships for minority students and set up minority education institutes.
“There are about 2,466 Jews in the state and their representatives had requested the government to include the community among the minorities. The proposal was before the government for consideration,” Maharashtra chief secretary Swadhin Kshatriya said. The Jewish community is the seventh to get minority status; the others are Muslims, Parsis, Jains, Buddhists, Christians and Sikhs. Jews have been a part of Indian society for over 2,300 years. According to the 2001 Census, the number of Jews living in India was 4,650, of which 2,466 reside in Maharashtra.
After being officially recognised as a minority community, it will become easier for them to register their marriages. They will also be able to set up their own educational institutes and practice and promote their culture. The principal secretary in the minority department admitted the state government has no official record of the number of Jewish people.
