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The Gujarat government is considering a special scheme for general category students who don't enjoy the benefits of quota system. This has come forward after widespread protests by the Patel community demanding reservations in government jobs under OBC quota.
On August 21, the Health Minister of the state and the government spokesperson, Nitin Patel, said that, "The state government is preparing a scheme to provide financial assistance to all non-reservation category students, including Patels. Under this scheme, the state government will bear various educational expenses, like tuition fees and hostel fees of these students."
However, Lalji Patel, the leader of the Sardar Patel Group (SPG), which is now a part of the Patel community umbrella organisation called Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti that spearheads the Patel quota agitation, refused to accept any such scheme. "We don't want any such schemes. We only want reservation in education and jobs. Our agitation will not stop until our demands are met," Lalji Patel of the Sardar Patel Group said.
At the same time, the Patel community carried out their state-wide agitation by holding massive rallies in Vadodara, Bharuch and Ankleshwar in Southern Gujarat. Incidentally, a seven-member committee headed by Gujarat Health Minister and government spokesperson Nitin Patel held a meeting with Patel leaders earlier, but it ended without any breakthrough.
