Write Comment     |     E-Mail To a Friend     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Print

MUMBAI: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Saturday pledged to fulfil the task of transforming Maharashtra from “swarajya” to “surajya”. After hoisting the flag at the government headquarters in Mantralaya, Fadnavis said, “Maharashtra will emerge as the most developed industrial state of India. The policy reforms undertaken by the government in the last eight months will go a long way in socio-economic upliftment of the state.

” Stating that foreign direct investment figures for the state had already touched Rs 70,000-crore mark, the CM said, “The industrial growth will also lead to unburdening the problems related to agro sector as it would open up new avenues of employment generation for both urban and rural Maharashtra.” Acknowledging that there are plenty of challenges ahead, Fadnavis said, “My government believes in inclusive growth, where discrimination has absolutely no place. Our policies have ensured a greater participation of people with a single purpose to reach the direct benefits of every project to the last mile users.”

He said the food security Act, which has come into force, would directly benefit 22 lakh farmers in the state. The schemes will ensure rice at Rs 3 and wheat at Rs 2 per kg. Conceding that poor monsoon had led to sustained drought, he said, “Not a single farmer in the state should go without a decent meal. I will not rest till the state is completely rid of farmer crisis.

The zero suicide mission is to address the root cause of the farmer crisis, which not only relates to providing financial help but also enhancing irrigation potential in the state.” The Jalyukta Shivar water conservation flagship project was on the fast track with almost 1,20,000 works across 6,002 villages in the first phase, he said. “The Jalyukta Shivar has become a people’s moment with voluntary contribution crossing Rs 300 crore,” he added.

The chief minister said by 2016, electricity connections on demand would be provided to everyone. In the last eight months, power connections have been made available to 40,000 farmers, he said. In the field of education, Fadnavis said, the government had ensured that 25,000 tribal students would be provided the best schooling, adding that 18,000 tribal students had been enrolled for school education till now. Maintaining that overall growth in the state could not be attained without law and order, he said, “The conviction rate in crime has improved from 8 per cent to 32 per cent in just eight months. We would work to bring it to 50 per cent soon.”