20.02.2024: Address by Hon’ble Governor to the State Legislature

Address by Hon’ble Governor to the State Legislature

HON’BLE CHAIRMAN, HON’BLE SPEAKER AND HON’BLE MEMBERS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE,

It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you all to the first Session of the State Legislature in the year 2024.
2. My Government will continue to follow the high ideals set by exemplars such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Bharatratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and other great visionaries and social reformers.
3. In an effort to resolve the longstanding Maharashtra-Karnataka Border Dispute, my Government is strongly defending the case in the Hon’ble Supreme Court.
4. 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.
5. Maharashtra is one of the leading industrial State in the country. Maharashtra accounts for 14.2 per cent of the country’s total GDP and is leading exporter with a share of 17.3 per cent of India’s total exports.
6. My Government has set an ambitious target of achieving one trillion dollar economy for the State by 2027-28, in line with the country’s goal of achieving five trillion dollar economy.
In this year, 75 projects worth of investment Rs. 61,576 crore have been approved under the Package Scheme of Incentives, which will generate more than 53,000 employment opportunities in the State.
7. Maharashtra is the highest in attracting foreign direct investment in the country. There has been Rs. 65,500 crore foreign direct investment in the State. This investment is 38.78 per cent of the country’s total foreign direct investment.
8. In January 2024, my Government has signed Memorandums of Understanding worth more than Rs. 3 lakh 53 thousand crore at the World Economic Forum held in Davos which will create two lakh jobs.
9. My Government has announced the State’s first “Maharashtra State Export Promotion Policy-2023” to enhance the export potential of the State. Gems and Jewellery Park will be set up in Mahape Industrial Area, Navi Mumbai, with an investment of Rs. 50,000 crore. It will generate one lakh direct and indirect employment.
My Government has acquired 1000 acre of land for “PM Mitra Park” at Nandgaon Peth, Amravati. It will generate 2200 direct and indirect employment.
My Government has reserved 1000 hectare land in Dighi, Raigad district, for Bulk Drug Park.
10. My Government has declared the “Integrated and Sustainable Textiles Policy 2023-28”, which will attract Rs. 25,000 crore investments and generate around 5 lakh jobs in the State over the next five years. The policy lays emphasis on usage of solar power.
11. My Government has introduced the “Green Hydrogen Policy-2023”, to make the State leading hub for manufacturing Green Hydrogen and its derivatives. Memorandums of Understanding have been signed with NTPC Green Energy Ltd. and six private developers regarding renewable energy projects with an investment of Rs. 2,76,000 crore and creating 64,000 jobs.
12. My Government has established 511 “Pramod Mahajan Rural Skill Development Centres” in rural areas to develop required skills for employment among rural youth.
13. My Government has initiated the “Skill Development Program” to empower and employ youth in naxalite area of Gondia and Gadchiroli districts. Two new Industrial Training Institutes have been established in Gadchiroli.
14. This year, my Government has commenced the recruitment process for more than 1 lakh 53 thousand vacant posts to enhance employment opportunities for the youth.
15. My Government has decided to implement the old pension scheme on the basis of the Central Government to the officers and employees of Government of Maharashtra whose recruitment advertisement or notification had been issued before 1st November, 2005, but joined the Government service on or after 1st November, 2005.
16. In the year 2023-24, my Government organized 424 Job Fairs throughout the State in which, more than 24,000 candidates were selected for various jobs. Additionally, in the month of December 2023, a State-level Maharojgar Mela at Nagpur was organized, in which more than 11,000 candidates were selected for various jobs.
17. My Government has registered more than 31 lakh construction workers on the website under the Maharashtra Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board. Around 7 lakh 11 thousand construction workers have been given benefits of Rs. 941 crore through DBT.
18. My Government has approved the establishment of Maharashtra State Unorganized Workers Welfare Corporation and 39 Virtual Boards aligned with different industries to extend social security benefits and welfare schemes to the State’s unorganized workers.
19. My Government has given administrative approval for installation of CCTV in Thane City. My Government has also decided to implement CCTV Project at Amravati and Nanded cities.
20. My Government has approved the Maharashtra Drone Mission for the use of drone technology in various sectors like natural calamities, public health, agriculture, traffic control, supervision and surveillance, etc.
21. My Government is committed to offer free medical treatment to all citizens in District Hospitals, General Hospitals and other government health institutions.
Converging, the “Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana” and “Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana”, my Government has expanded coverage to include all ration cardholders and domicile certificate holder families in the State. The annual insurance coverage has been raised from Rs. 1 lakh 50 thousand to 5 lakh per family.
22. My Government has initiated the “Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thakarey Aapla Davakhana” program for comprehensive primary health care services. In Mumbai, 220 centres, including 30 Polyclinics, are operational and 43 centres along with 5 Polyclinics and diagnostics centres are planned. These facilities offer free medical check-ups, medicines, blood tests and specialist consultations, benefiting more than 35 lakh individuals residing in Mumbai.
23. In rest of State, 347 “Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray – Aapla Davakhana” clinics have been opened providing medical assistance to more than 15 lakh persons.
24. My Government has linked 61 lakh 56 thousand families with the “Maharashtra State Rural Livelihood Mission”. The Government has raised remuneration for Community Resource Persons from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 6,000 and increased the revolving fund for Self Help Groups from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 30,000.
25. Under the “Swachha Bharat Mission (Gramin) Phase-II”, 90,000 individual household latrines and 2600 community sanitary complexes have been constructed and 28,300 villages have been declared Open Defection Free Villages.
26. Under the “Balasaheb Smruti Matoshri Gram Panchayat Bandhani Yojana”, my Government has decided to give revise grant of Rs. 20 lakh to Gram Panchayats having population upto 2000 and Rs. 25 lakh to those having population more than 2000, for construction of Gram Panchayat Buildings.
27. My Government has launched “Maha Awaas Abhiyan 2023-24”on National Housing Day to expedite the implementation of “Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin” and other State sponsored rural housing schemes.
28. My Government is effectively implementing the “Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)” across 409 cities in the State, sanctioning more than 15 lakh houses. The Central Government has allocated Rs. 2909 crore for this initiative, complemented by the release of Rs. 2873 crore from the Maharashtra Niwara Nidhi and Rs. 782 crore from the State’s budgetary provision.
29. My Government has completed Atal Bihari Vajpayee Shivdi-Nhavasheva Atal Setu, the longest sea route in the country and opened it to the public from 13th January 2024.
30. My Government is extending the “Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg” highway, proposing the construction of a four-lane highway between Sindkhedraja to Shegoan, Bhandara–Gadchiroli, Nagpur–Chandrapur and Nagpur–Gondia as well as Jalna to Nanded Expressway.
31. My Government with the assistance of Asian Development Bank have completed 451 kilometres of road development. Under the NABARD loan assistance scheme, 2470 kilometres of roads have been improved and 731 bridges have been completed. Under the Hybrid Annuity Project, 6700 kilometres of road length work has been completed.
32. My Government has approved Rs. 3,552 crore for Jalna- Jalgaon new broad gauge railway line and Rs. 750 crore for Nanded-Bidar new railway project, as a State Government share.
33. My Government has initiated the second phase, “Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan 2.0” in 5700 villages.
34. My Government is implementing the “Atal Bhujal Yojana” in 1442 villages from 43 Talukas of 13 districts from the over exploited, critical and semi critical watersheds of the State. All 1133 community led water security plans have been prepared and implementation is in progress.
35. My Government has given in-principle approval to “Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjeevani project Phase-II” of cost Rs. 6,000 crore in 21 districts to enhance climate resilience and profitability of farmers.
36. My Government has approved 27 projects under “Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayai Yojana” and 91 projects under “Baliraja Jalsanjeevani Yojana”. Currently, a combined irrigation potential of 5 lakh 31 thousand hectare have been achieved through both the schemes.
37. My Government has granted administrative approval to 68 projects worth Rs. 80,000 crore, generating irrigation potential for 13 lakh hectare area.
38. My Government has framed a policy for developing “Pumped Storage Projects”, combined with “Lift Irrigation Systems” and “Other Renewable Energy Hybrid Projects” through Public-Private Partnership.
39. My Government has achieved first rank in the country in setting up solar pumps in the State.
40. To provide day time electricity supply to agricultural consumers, my Government has launched the “Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana 2.0”. The program aims to solarize minimum 30 per cent of agricultural feeders by generating solar power capacity of approximately 7000 Mega Watt by 2025.
41. My Government has taken decision to establish modern orange processing centres at Nagpur, Katol, Kalameshwar, Morshi, and Sangrampur.
42. My Government has provided crop insurance to farmers by paying only one rupee under “Crop Insurance Scheme”. During the Kharif season in 2023, 1 crore 71 lakh farmers have participated in the scheme and more than 113 lakh hectare of farm land was insured. For Kharif 2023, Rs. 1,550 crore insurance preminum of farmers share has been paid by the Government. More than Rs. 2,200 crore compensation has been paid to more than 48 lakh farmers who were in trouble due to adverse condition in the Kharif season of 2023. In Rabbi 2023-24, more than 71 lakh farmers have participated and insured more than 49 lakh hectare area.
43. My Government has always given priority to the interests of farmers. Under, “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Yojana” and “Namo Shetakari Maha Sanman Nidhi Yojana” eligible farmers families in the State will receive a total amount of Rs. 12,000 per year.
44. My Government is implementing the “incentive benefit scheme under Mahatma Jotirao Phule Loan Waiver Scheme” to encourage the farmers who have taken the crop loans and had repaid those loans. Under the said scheme more than Rs. 5,000 crore was disbursed to more than 14 lakh Adhar validated farmer’s loan account.
45. From March, 2023 my Government has implemented the Direct Beneficiary Transfer System to directly deposit funds into farmers’ bank accounts for agricultural crop losses due to natural calamities. Over and above Rs. 3,825 crore have been seamlessly deposited into the 44 lakh 82 thousand farmers account after identification through Aadhaar numbers.
46. My Government has announced to provide incentive amount of Rs. 20,000 per hectare to paddy producing farmers with maximum limit of two hectare per farmer under the “Minimum Support Price Scheme”.
47. My Government has decided to provide protection to deposits up to limit of Rs 1 lakh in Non-Agricultural Co-operative Credit Societies as well as salaried employees’ Co-operative Credit Societies in the State. About 3 crore depositors of the State will get the benefit of this.
48. My Government is implementing the “Mukhyamantri – Majhi Shala Sundar Shala” campaign to boost students’ exposure and personality development through extracurricular activities in all schools.
49. My Government is implementing “One State, One Uniform Scheme” from the academic year, 2023-24. Under the scheme, two free uniforms, shoes and a pair of socks are being provided to all the students from 1st to 8th standard, who are studying in Government and local body Government schools.
50. My Government has approved the establishment of new Government Medical Colleges in Thane, Palghar, Amravati, Wardha, Bhandara, Buldhana, Gadchiroli, Washim, Jalna and Hingoli.
51. My Government has given approval for new veterinary college at Savali Vihir, Taluka Rahata, District Ahmednagar under Maharashtra Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Nagpur.
52. To honour the legacy of Maharashtra’s great sportsman and India’s first individual Olympic medalist wrestler, late Shri Khashaba Jadhav, my Government has decided to celebrate his birth anniversary 15th January as the State Sports Day every year.
53. I am delighted to share you that during the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, athletes from Maharashtra achieved remarkable success, securing a total of 26 medals which included 15 Gold, 7 Silver and 4 Bronze.
In 19th Para Asian Games held at the same venue, athletes from Maharashtra demonstrated exceptional skill, winning 11 medals, comprising 2 Gold, 2 Silver and 7 Bronze.
Furthermore, at the National Games 2023 in Goa, Maharashtra showcased outstanding performance with a total of 228 medals comprising 80 Gold, 69 Silver and 79 Bronze, securing the top position in the medal tally.
54. My Government has organized successfully the National Youth Festival from 12th to 16th January 2024 at Nashik.
55. Justice Sandeep Shinde Committee was appointed to find out the record entries of Kunbi and to formulate the procedure to issue Maratha-Kunbi, Kunbi-Maratha caste certificate to the eligible persons in Maratha Community and accordingly, Maratha-Kunbi, Kunbi-Maratha caste certificates have been issued.
56. The work of investigating the backwardness of the Maratha community has been entrusted to the State Backward Class Commission. The Government is taking necessary steps to give reservation to the Maratha community.
57. My Government is initiating the “Maharaja Sayajirao Gaikwad Scholarship” to pursue Master’s degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and PhDs at abroad, for 75 meritorious students from the Maratha, Kunbi, Kunbi-Maratha and Maratha-Kunbi communities.
58. My Government has given administrative approval for the construction of SARATHI Institutes at Nashik, Chattrapati Sambhajinagar, Navi Mumbai, Latur, Nagpur, Pune Divisional and Sub-Centre Offices.
59. My Government has disbursed Rs. 232 crore as interest refunds to more than 17,500 Maratha Community beneficiaries for their business loans through “Annasaheb Patil Economic Backward Development Corporation”.
60. My Government has decided to deposit allowances directly into the bank accounts of the students from Other Backward Classes, Denotified Tribes, Nomadic Tribes and Special Backward Categories who do not get admission in Government hostels, for providing food, accommodation and other educational facilities under “Dnyanjyoti Savitribai Phule Aadhaar Scheme”.
61. My Government has increased the number of foreign scholarships from 50 to 75 for meritorious students belonging to VJNT, Other Backward Class and Special Backward categories for higher education at foreign universities.
62. My Government has decided to establish corporations for the upliftment of Gurava, Lingayat Nabhik, Ramoshi and Wadar communities. Each corporation has been sanctioned a share capital of Rs. 50 crore.
63. My Government is implementing “Modi Awas Housing Scheme” in the State for the construction of 10 lakh houses in the next three years for Other Backward Classes, Denotified Tribes, Nomadic Tribes and Special Backward Ccategories. Under this scheme Rs. 12,000 crore will be made available.
64. My Government has initiated the impactful campaign “Divyag Kalyan Vibhag Divyanganchya Dari” for benefit of divyangjan. This campaign has covered 28 districts, benefitting more than 85,000 divyangjans.
65. My Government has increased reservation from 3 per cent to 5 per cent for divyangjans while granting government lands to various housing societies.
66. My Government has launched scheme of rehabilitation homes at Thane, Ratnagiri, Pune and Nagpur through voluntary organizations for persons cured from mental illness who do not require further treatment or are homeless or not accepted by their families.
67. My Government has raised the financial aid from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1,500 under the “Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Anudan Yojana” and “Shravanbal Seva Rajya Nivrutteevetan Yojana” for 45 lakh beneficiaries like old age individuals, widows and disabled persons. My Government is incurring expenditure of Rs. 6,000 crore approximately for this scheme.
68. Under the “Mukhya Mantri Vayoshree Yojana”, my Government has decided to give one time financial assistance of Rs. 3000 to the senior citizens of age 65 years and above to resolve physical disabilities and infirmities arising due to age.
69. My Government is giving free travel facilities in Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation buses to all the senior citizens above 75 years age. This scheme has benefitted senior citizens more than 26 crore times till date.
70. Under “Mahila Sanman Yojana”, my Government is giving 50 percent concession to women in ticket fares while traveling in Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation buses.
This scheme has already benefitted women more than 51 crore times till date and for which, discounted amount of Rs. 1,461 crore has been disbursed.
71. My Government has introduced “Lek Ladki Yojana” to empower girls born on or after 1st April 2023 in yellow and orange ration card holder families. Under this scheme, Rs. one lakh one thousand will be given to beneficiary girl at various stages till she completes 18 years of age.
72. My Government has introduced a “Women-Centric Tourism Policy” to encourage women participation in the tourism sector.
73. To ensure disposal of pending cases relating to offenses against women and children, under “National Mission for Safety of Women”, my Government has approved creation of 414 regular posts and filling of 690 posts by outsourcing for 138 Special Fast Track Courts.
74. To address malnutrition and anaemia, my Government has decided to distribute “Fortified Rice” to beneficiaries through the Targeted Public Distribution System. So far, more than 12 lakh metric tons of fortified rice have been distributed in all districts.
75. My Government has distributed special food kits named “Anandacha Shidha” to beneficiaries of National Food Security Act and Above Poverty Line Farmers in 14 suicide prone districts on festive occasions such as Gudhipadwa, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti, Gauri-Ganpati, Diwali and Shree Ram Pranpratistha.
76. My Government has launched the “Shasan Aplya Dari” welfare initiative in the State which directly benefited to more than two crore beneficiaries.
77. My Government has decided to undertake development work worth over Rs. 46,000 crore for the overall development of Marathwada.
78. On the occasion of the “Amrit Mahotsav Year of Marathwada Liberation Day,” my Government has organized various events in eight districts of Marathwada region. Rs. 100 crore have been sanctioned for a grand memorial at Chattrapati Sambhajinagar, preserving the sacrifices and triumphs of Marathwada Liberation in the history.
79. In commemorating the 350th coronation year of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, my Government has organised various programmes for celebrating the Shivarajyabhishek Mahotsav from 2nd June 2023. The Government has initiated the creation of Shivcharitra in Braille script for the visually impaired persons.
80. To bring back the Baghnakh to India, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Mumbai and Victoria and Albert Museum, London. My Government intends to display Baghnakh in the proposed Shiva Shastra Shouryagatha exhibition across four places namely Satara, Kolhapur, Nagpur and Mumbai.
81. My Government has increased funds limit of “Punyashlok Ahilya Devi Holkar Rural Pilgrimage Development Scheme A-Class” from “Rs. 2 crore to Rs. 25 crore” to “Rs. 5 crore to Rs. 25 crore” for infrastructure development at larger rural pilgrimage sites. My Government has also increased the fund limit of “Punyashlok Ahilya Devi Holkar Rural Yatrasthal Scheme B-Class” from Rs. 2 crore to Rs. 5 crore for infrastructure development at rural pilgrimage sites.
82. My Government has enacted the Maharashtra Marathi Bhasha Vidyapeeth Act, 2023 for establishment of “Marathi Bhasha Vidyapeeth” at Riddhapur, Amravati District, for promoting, preserving, strengthening Marathi Language, literature and culture and for advancement of Marathi Language in higher education.
83. My Government has accorded administrative approval for incurring expenses towards purchase of software for translating judgments of Supreme Court of India as well as High Court of Bombay into Marathi Language. Besides, 300 manpower is being made available through outsourcing, to check and verify the copies translated into Marathi with the assistance of the software.
84. My Government has taken decision to provide financial assistance to the Maharashtra Introduction Centre, New Delhi and Goa for organizing linguistic activities and programs for promotion and disseminating Marathi Language for Marathi speaking people in other States.
85. My Government, has revised the construction plans of Marathi Bhasha Bhavan at Charni Road, Mumbai and accordingly building will be constructed with contruction cost of approximately Rs. 250 crore.
Hon’ble Members, I am confident that, in this special session, you will participate and give your well-considered inputs on those proposals to propel Maharashtra towards greater prosperity.
Once again, I extend my warm greetings.
JAI HIND!
JAI MAHARASHTRA!