Senior leader Dhananjay Munde wrote a letter to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis conveying his concerns and registering strong objection against the Public Health Department of Maharashtra for not reserving seats for the Nomadic Tribe (NT) categories in its latest recruitment advertisements. The issue pertains to the recently released notifications for 1,974 Community Health Officer (CHO) posts and 1,440 Medical Officer (Group-A) posts under the state’s Public Health Department.
The Maharashtra government’s large-scale health recruitment drive is a major move toward improving the healthcare sector services and generating employment. However, the concerns raised by senior Dhananjay Munde regarding the lack of reservation for NT categories have pointed out towards a very important social and administrative issue.
In his letter to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Munde pointed out that in the advertisement for the Community Health Officer positions, not a single seat has been allotted to the NT-D category. He also highlighted that in another Medical Officer advertisement, no reservations were shown for any of the NT categories — A, B, K, or D. According to him, this has created a sense of injustice among aspirants from these communities, many of whom have been preparing for these exams for years.
Munde emphasized that “millions of students in this category are preparing for the above positions across the state and through these advertisements there is a feeling that injustice is being done.” He has urged the government to suspend both advertisements and issue fresh notifications ensuring fair representation for all categories under the NT quota.
Large-Scale Recruitment Drive
The advertisements in question were released on November 4, 2025, as part of the government’s major health recruitment campaign. The drive aims to fill nearly 3,400 total vacancies — 1,440 Medical Officers and 1,974 Community Health Officers — to strengthen healthcare services in both rural and urban areas across Maharashtra.
This move is part of the state’s ongoing efforts to boost employment opportunities and reduce the rate of unemployment while simultaneously addressing staff shortages in the public health sector. The Maharashtra government has been actively focusing on expanding its healthcare workforce in line with its policy of accessible healthcare for all.
The Reservation Issue
In Maharashtra, the Nomadic Tribe (NT) categories — including NT-A, NT-B, NT-C, and NT-D — are entitled to a specific quota in government jobs and educational institutions. However, the latest health department advertisements reportedly did not reflect any reserved positions for these sub-categories, which sparked Munde’s criticism.
The absence of NT reservation has become a point of debate, as it directly affects the chances of backward-category candidates who rely on these quotas to secure fair opportunities in state government jobs. The alleged omission has raised questions about the implementation of existing reservation policies in recruitment drives.
Balancing Development and Inclusivity
While the government’s recruitment drive has been widely welcomed as a step toward job creation and public service improvement, concerns like these underline the need for greater transparency in the reservation process.
Officials within the health department have been working to streamline hiring procedures and fill long-pending vacancies. The state has also made notable progress in expanding its medical infrastructure post-pandemic, with increased budget allocations for hospitals, primary health centers, and wellness programs.
Ensuring that all reserved categories receive their rightful share of seats would not only uphold social justice but also strengthen public trust in the fairness of Fadnavis government.
Experts say, “A unbiased review and corrective action, if needed, could ensure that the recruitment process remains both fair and inclusive, in line with the Fadnavis government’s broader goal of “growth with equity” — providing opportunities for every section of society while strengthening the state’s public health system and improving public confidence among backward classes”.
On the issue experts further say that, “To maintain transparency and fairness, several experts believe that the government could release a clear category-wise seat matrix for each recruitment advertisement. At the same time, review and rectify any potential omissions in the reservation breakdown. If required, publish corrigendum notices if any category has been unintentionally left out. And reinforce its commitment to inclusive employment policies while continuing to expand job opportunities.