While Maharashtra is grappling with series of protests, the state government claims new standards in participatory governance
Pramod Kumar in Mumbai
The mischievously some political parties tried to turn the farmers’ agitation violent in Nagar, Nashik and Pune, the Government of Maharashtra waived the loan of farmers without wasting time. But the agitation by farmers still continues, now in the name of land acquisition. Amid these reports, Organiser did a reality check to know what the Government parameters say. The facts gathered by Organiser show that the State of Maharashtra, which has been in the news for wrong reasons like malnutrition deaths, severe droughts, scams, farmers’ suicides, etc is indeed setting high standards in development with unprecedented public participation. Apart from creating world class infrastructure and making huge investment in agriculture, there are concrete efforts to take the fruits of development to the last man of the society.
Report/Maharashtra : We are Firm on Resolving Farmers’ Woes
It needs no elaboration that about 52 per cent of farm’s land in the State is drought prone and 80 per cent farming is dependent on rains. It is a paradox that although 40 per cent of the country’s total irrigation projects are in Maharashtra, average irrigation in the State is hardly 17 per cent. “We believe that water conservation and not big irrigation projects, can assure irrigation to the drought hit areas. That is why we have evolved a model of water conservation in the form of Jalyukta Shivar Yojana. We have decided to make 22,000 villages drought-free. Every village is doing its water budgeting underlying water requirements for drinking, irrigation and non-irrigation purposes, availability of water through all structures, etc. The deficit will be met through water conservation. We will make 5,000 villages water neutral every year. Ninety per cent work in 11,000 villages has already been finished and they will be declared drought-free shortly. By 2019-20, all 22,000 villages will be drought-free. The impact of these efforts is that the agriculture growth rate, which has been in minus (around -8) for several years is now 12 per cent,” says CM Devendra Fadnavis while talking to Organiser in Mumbai on June 14.
In another initiative, schools, primary health centres, etc in 14,000 out of 29,000 Village Panchayats have digitally been connected and by the end of next year all 29,000 Panchayats will be connected. “In order to strengthen localise weather advisory, we are installing 2,069 automatic weather stations at Revenue Circle level this year. About 500 of them are ready. Through digital connectivity, we will be able to inform the villagers on real time basis when it will rain, how much will it rain, what would be the moisture level, when and what should they sow, etc,” adds Shri Fadnavis. The digital connectivity provided in 29 villages of Amaravati region, which have been infamous for largest number of malnutrition deaths has helped not only in curbing malnutrition deaths, but also provided global platforms to local Vanvasi artisans to sell their products in international market through Amazon, etc.
Additionally, 1,000 villages are being developed as ideal village in public-private partnership. A Trust has been formed involving Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Departments of some corporate houses. 50 per cent money in the Trust is being provided under CSR while rest 50 per cent is being contributed by the Government. Under Swachhata Abhiyan, 20 lakh toilets have been built making 30,000 villages Open Defecation Free (ODF). By March 2018 all the villages will be ODF. Under PM Awas Yojana also 2.5 lakh houses are under construction and by the year 2019 in 50 per cent districts nobody will be homeless. By 2020 all homeless will get a house in all 36 districts.
In Mumbai, work is going on for creating 200 km Metro Rail network. It will double the capacity of public transport. Additionally, the elevated corridor for local trains in Mumbai will provide travel facility to 35 lakh more passengers. Also, all public transport facilities including buses, rail, metro and mono rail are being integrated through single app. The underground Metro being planned in Mumbai will be the largest metro rail network of Asia. “We are also creating coastal road in Western side to decongest Mumbai. Work on Pune and Nagpur Metro is also in full swing. The 700 km long Nagpur-Mumbai Communication Super Expressway will connect 24 districts.
Positive efforts need support of all well meaning people. The unprecedented public participation in government schemes shows the Maharashtra is heading in right direction.
