09.12.2024: Governor addresses the session of State Legislature

HON’BLE CHAIRMAN, HON’BLE SPEAKER AND HON’BLE MEMBERS

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to this first session of the State Legislature after the recent general election for the 15th State Legislative Assembly. I extend my heartiest congratulations to the newly elected members of the State Legislative Assembly and to the Chief Minister and both Deputy Chief Ministers.
2. My Government will continue to follow the high ideals of Rajmata Jijau, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Bharatratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Bhagwan Birsa Munda, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule, Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar, Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj and many other great leaders and social reformers in serving the people of the State.
3. I am delighted to share you that, the Central Government has recently granted the status of classical language to Marathi language. This will help for establishment of special centres to study Marathi Language in 450 Universities. More funds will be available from Central Government for preservation and conservation of Marathi Language.
4. Maharashtra is one of the leading industrial States in the country. Maharashtra contributes more than 14 per cent to the country’s total GDP. The State is a preferred destination for Foreign Direct Investment.
In year 2023-24, Maharashtra topped in the country in Foreign Direct Investment with Rs.1,25,101 crore investment. Maharashtra again topped in the country in first two quarters, from April to September of this year 2024-25 with Foreign Direct Investment of Rs.1,13,236 crore, which is more than 90 per cent of last year’s total Foreign Direct Investment.
5. My Government has set a very ambitious target of making Maharashtra the first state in the country to achieve the target of one trillion US dollar economy by the year 2027-28.
My Government has announced a policy of giving Anchor Industry status to mega-projects in the thrust sector and high-tech manufacturing sector such as semiconductors, electric vehicles, aerospace and defense, chemicals and polymers, lithium iron batteries, steel and other products and special incentives to attract more investment in the state. Approved projects in the last eight months under the said policy, will attract total investment of approximately Rs.3,29,000 crore and it will generate direct and indirect employment of 1,18,000.
6. My Government has announced State’s Information Technology and Information Technology Supported Services Policy, 2023 and also Green Data Centre Policy. The policy aims to make Mumbai, the Data Centre Capital of India. As part of this policy, Green Integrated Data Centre Park will be set up in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai areas, which will lead to an approximately one lakh crore rupees investment and generate employment 20,000 in the State.
7. My Government has launched “Chief Minister Yuva Karya Prashikshan Yojana” in the State to promote skills amongst youth and provide skilled manpower to industries. Under this scheme, 1,19,700 candidates have joined for training.
8. For providing training to youth with the purpose of making them employable, 1000 Acharya Chanakya Skill Development Centres have been started in colleges. In these centres, 1,50,000 youth will be trained annually.
9. My Government has launched “Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Women Startup Scheme” to provide financial aid upto rupees 25 lakhs for female startup in their initial stage of business.
10. My Government has commenced the recruitment process to fill 1,53,000 vacant posts to enhance employment opportunities for the youth. Till today 78,309 posts have been filled.
General Administration Department
11. My Government has started process to fill up 6931 vacant posts in 17 cadres in Scheduled Areas (PESA) on honorarium basis subject to the decision of Supreme Court.
12. My Government is implementing “Mukhyamantri Mazi Ladki Bahin Scheme” for empowerment of women in the age group of 21 to 65 years in the State. An amount of Rs.1,500 per month is being given to more than 2 crore 34 lakh beneficiary women under this scheme and five monthly instalments from July to November, 2024 has been paid. This scheme will continue onwards.
13. The Government has issued “4th Women Policy – 2024” for social, economic and educational development of women.
14. My Government is implementing “Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana” to provide free refill of 3 gas cylinders in a year to the eligible beneficiaries to live in smoke-free environment.
15. My Government has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the State of Baden-Wurttemberg in Germany in the month of February, 2024 for supply of 10,000 skilled manpower.
16. My Government has taken decision to implement the State Government’s Revised National Pension Scheme as well as the Central Government’s Unified Pension Scheme to the employees who are covered by the National Pension Scheme.
17. Under “Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin”, my Government has sanctioned 19,55,548 houses and out of them 12,63,067 houses has been constructed since 2014.
Under all state sponsored housing schemes, my Government has sanctioned. 7,07,496 houses and out of them 3,63,154 houses has been constructed since July 2022.
18. My Government has given administrative approval for construction of Gram Panchayats buildings at 2786 Gram panchayats who do not have their own Grampanchayat building, under “Balasaheb Thackeray Smriti Matoshree Gram Panchayat Bandhani Yojana”.
19. My Government is implementing “Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)” in 409 cities across the State. Under this scheme, the construction of 3,82,200 houses are in progress. The Central Government has allocated Rs. 4,150 crore and the State Government has sanctioned Rs. 4,475 crore for this scheme.
20. CIDCO is implementing a Mega Housing Scheme of 67,000 houses at affordable rates for economically weaker section and low income group people.
21. My Government has decided to construct 7480 Km long roads with cement concretisation under various schemes of Public Works Department.
22. The Government has approved to develop a new six lane greenfield expressway from Pune to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar through Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation.
23. In order to provide seamless and air-conditioned passenger transport to the commuters of Mumbai and Pune, my Government has recently opened metro lines from Bandra Kurla Complex to Aarey in Mumbai and District Court, Pune to Swargate in Pune, to public service.
24. The Government has also decided to construct new four metro lines of total length 44 km in various parts of Pune under Pune Metro Rail Phase-2.
25. My Government along with Government of India is developing Vadhavan Port in Palghar district to boost the economy of the State. The total cost of this project is Rs. 76,220 crore.
26. The Government has approved the construction of a “mega project in the port sector” at Murbe in Palghar district with an investment of Rs. 4259 crore with participation of the private sector. It will help the local industries and provide job opportunities for the people.
27. My Government has accorded administrative approval to 167 irrigation projects having irrigation potential of 25 lakh 21 thousand hector in last two years.
28. The Government has accorded administrative approval to four river linking schemes, namely, Wainganga-Nalganga, Nar-Par-Girna, Damanganga-Ekdare-Godavari and Damanganga- Vaitarna- Godavari. It will create 4 lakh 33 thousand hector irrigation potential.
29. My Government is actively implementing, “Jal Jeevan Mission Scheme” in the State. Under the scheme, the Government has provided more than 1 crore 27 lakhs household connections in rural areas.
30. My Government has decided to implement “Milk Development Project-Phase-2” to promote the growth of milk production in Vidarbha and Marathwada regions. It will provide means of additional income to the farmers.
31. My Government has launched the “Magel Tyala Saur Krushi Pump Yojana” to provide sustainable solar-powered irrigation solutions to the farmers. Total of 4 lakh 5 thousand solar pumps have been approved under the “Pradhan Mantri Kusum” Component B Scheme and so far 1 lakh 83 thousand solar agricultural pumps have been installed across the State.
32. My Government has launched the “Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana 2.0” to provide day time electricity supply to agricultural consumers. Under this scheme, Solar Power Projects having capacity of 16000 Megawatt will be installed on about approximately 35000 acres of Government and private land upto June 2026.
33. The Government has launched “Mukhyamantri Baliraja Mofat Vij Yojna-2024” to provide free electricity to agricultural pump consumers of upto 7.5 HP in the State. It has benifited to more than 46 lakhs Farmers.
34. My Government is implementing “Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana – Watershed Development Component 2.0 Scheme” in State which covers area of 5 lakh 65 thousand hector with total cost of Rs.1335 crore.
35. To expedite regularization process of the transfer of fragments of the land for any non-agricultural purpose made in violation of the Maharashtra Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holding Act, my Government has reduced the regularization premium from 25 per cent to 5 per cent of the market value of land by making suitable amendment in the Act.
36. My Government has given financial assistance to cotton and soybean farmers for Kharif season 2023 in the State. Accordingly, an amount of more than Rs. 2500 crore has been deposited in the bank accounts of more than 67 lakh farmers.
37. Under “Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana”, my Government has deposited Rs. 8892 crore in the account of more than 91 lakhs farmers’ families, eligible under “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana”, through Direct Benefit Transfer in the year 2023-2024 and in 2024-2025 till November 2024.
38. The Government has provided compensation of Rs. 7466 crore to 1 crore 14 lakh farmers during 2023 Kharif season, under Comprehensive Crop Insurance Scheme. In the year 2023-24 Rabi season, over 71 lakh farmers participated and over 49 lakh hector of land were insured.
39. My Government is implementing centrally sponsored “Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana Scheme”. A total number of 4147 beneficiaries are given benefits under this scheme.
40. To provide benefits of various schemes to fishermen and their families, for their welfare and development, the Government has established Maharashtra Inland Fishermen Welfare Corporation and Maharashtra Marine Fishermen Welfare Corporation.
41. My Government has taken decision to waive overdue principal loan of 261 Lift Irrigation Cooperative Societies with approximately amount of Rs. 132 crore and pay the said amount to the respective banks. Total 42,842 member farmers of Lift Irrigation Cooperative Societies in the State will be benefited by this decision.
42. The Government has taken decision to provide subsidy to the cashew farmers of the State at the rate of Rs.10 per kg of cashew seed for the cashew season of 2024. The Government has sanctioned Rs. 279 crore for the scheme. It will benefit 1 lakh 39 thousand farmers in Konkan region.
43. The Central Government has announced Minimum Support Price for Soyabean as Rs. 4892 per quintal for season 2024-2025, which is more than previous year by Rs. 292 per quintal. My Government has started procurement process through 546 procurement centers and so far 9,50,114 quintal Soyabean has been procured. This procurement will continue till 12th January 2025.
44. My Government has disbursed an amount of Rs. 3,787 crore through the direct beneficiary system in the Aadhar linked bank accounts of 40 lakh 33 thousand beneficiary farmers whose crops have been damaged due to natural calamities.
45. Under the Minimum support Price Scheme for procurement of paddy and coarse grain, my Government will procure 13 lakh 43 thousand metric tons of paddy and 75 thousand metric tons of coarse grains from farmers in the State during the Kharif marketing season 2024-25.
46. My Government has framed policy for providing grant-in-aid to permanently unaided, unaided special schools, affiliated hostels, training centres for persons with disabilities as well as mentally deficient children homes for orphan.
47. My Government has launched “Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Scholarship Scheme” to waive the Tuition Fees and Examination Fees of female students whose annual family income is below 8 lakhs rupees, pursuing Government approved professional courses from Academic Year 2024-25. Under this scheme, more than two lakhs female students will be benefited.
48. My Government has decided to develop 250 Aashram Schools as Aadarsh Aashram Schools in the State. Under this initiative, Digital Classroom, Virtual Classroom, Tab Lab, Facial Biometric system will be installed in these Aashram Schools.
49. The Government has decided to develop a child protection system in the Government Aashram Schools to create a child-friendly environment in Schools. The Government will provide necessary training to teachers and students so that students will feel ease and free from fear and anxiety in Aashram Schools.
50. My Government is providing free treatment to the people of the State in all Government Hospitals and health institutions under various programs.
51. My Government has given approval for establishment of new Government Medical Colleges in Mumbai, Nashik, Thane, Jalna, Hingoli, Washim, Buldhana, Amravati, Bhandara and Gadchiroli, accordingly 900 MBBS students have been given admission for academic year 2024-25.
52. My Government has given approval to establish new Government Ayurveda College and Hospital in Kolhapur and Buldhana District, Government Unani College and Hospital in Raigad District, Government Homeopathy College and Hospital and Government Yoga and Naturopathy College and Hospital in Kolhapur District.
53. My Government has honoured Paris Olympics 2024 medal winning athletes Shri. Swapnil Kusale with Rs. 2 crore and Paris Paralympics 2024 medal winning athletes Shri. Sachin Khilari with Rs. 3 crore as a cash prize.
54. My Government has planned Mobile Forensic Vans project in the State for effective implementation of provisions of Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The Government has set up the “Centre of Excellence in Digital Forensics” at Regional Forensic Science Laboratory Pune with State-of-the-art facilities to tackle the challenges of the cyber crime.
55. The Chief Minister’s ‘Task Force on Environment and Sustainable Development’ has been formed to combat climate change by encouraging farmers to cultivate Bamboo as a source of alternative fuel. The Harit Maharashtra programme has been announced to increase the green cover across the State.
56. My Government has approved proposal of Rs. 517 crore to implement African Safari Project at Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoo, Nagpur.
57. My Government has given administrative approval to the Development plan worth of Rs. 840 crore of integrated tourism development of places in the Western Ghat area of Satara District, the memorial site of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in Sangali District, Vitthal Rukmini Mandir in Chandrapur District, Integrated Tourism Development at Ujani Reservoir in Solapur District and Restoration of Ashtavinayak Ganapati Temples.
58. The Government has announced “Maharashtra Tourism Policy, 2024” to increase the importance of the tourism sectors in the State and to attract private investment of approximately one lakh crore rupees for the next 10 years. It will develop 50 sustainable special tourism destinations across the State. It will create direct and indirect employment of about 18 lakhs in the tourism sector.
59. My Government in collaboration with Prasar Bharati, has entered into Memorandum of Understanding to launch 5 episode series on Traditional Textiles of Maharashtra on Government of India OTT platform. It will help to reach states traditional textiles and rich heritage to the worldwide audience.
60. My Government has established 15 new Courts at Hingoli, Pune, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Yavatmal, Dharashiv, Nagpur, Wardha and Thane districts in 2024-25.
61. The Government has sanctioned 44 projects of Court Buildings and Residential Quarters for Judges to the tune of Rs. 742 crore under Centrally Sponsored Scheme Development Infrastructure Facilities for the Judiciary.
62. My Government is strongly representing Maharashtra in the plea filed in the Supreme Court to resolve the Maharashtra-Karnataka border issue. The Government of Maharashtra is effectively implementing educational, medical and various other schemes for the benefit of Marathi-speaking people residing in the border area.
Hon’ble Members, my Government will provide a clean, transparent, responsible and result-oriented administration to the people of the State. I am sure that all the members of both the Houses will extend their whole-hearted co-operation, support and guidance to the Government in this endeavour.
Once again, I extend my warm greetings.
Jai Hind ! Jai Maharashtra !!