26.01.2022: Governor’s Message on the occasion of Republic Day
Address by Maharashtra Governor Hon. Mr. Bhagat Singh Koshyari on 26th January 2022 to mark the 72nd anniversary of Republic Day of India
(Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Maidan, Dadar, Mumbai)
Brothers and sisters
Jay Maharashtra
1- At the outset, I extend my greetings to the people of Maharashtra on the 72nd anniversary of the Republic Day of India.
2- I pay my respect and tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule, Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Bharatratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and other great social reformers.
3 -This is the Platinum Jubilee [Amrut Mahotsav] year of India’s independent. Maharashtra had contributed a lot in the process of nation building and as such our state is considered as the ‘Growth Engine’ of the nation. We also organize various programs on this occasion.
4- The work done by Maharashtra in last two and a half years is really remarkable.
5- The United Nations Climate Change Conference has taken cognizance of Maharashtra’s endeavor for environment conservation and the state was also bestowed upon the ‘Inspiring Regional Leadership’ award in Scotland, recently.
6- The electric vehicle policy had led to remarkable changes in the eco- system and the automotive industry. We have the target of completing the electrification of public transportation and as such, the BEST electric buses are pressed into service in Mumbai.
For starting the charging stations for electric vehicles, people related to the local civic bodies, housing development bodies are given total waiver from the property tax. We have instructed the government departments to start using electric vehicles.
7 –During our fight with the Covid-19 pandemic in last two years we did not let our economy collapse or come to a standstill. The efforts of the state government in designing effective plan to curb the crowd were deemed as significant at the national level.
8 – For successful planning and combating with the Covid-19 pandemic, the honorable Supreme Court has applauded the ‘Mumbai Model’. The Mumbai High court, NITI Aayog and World Health Organization (W H O) have also appreciated the efforts taken by Maharashtra. All the success is not merely because of the administration but the Frontline workers, doctors, police, sanitation employees and most importantly the common people of the state were also instrumental. I appreciate the efforts taken by all the Corona warriors. Obviously, we should not be content about the Covid-19 pandemic and remember that self discipline is very essential for our better health.
9 -I feel glad to mention that in the last two years various schemes were effectively implemented in the state. These include the investment in industries, agriculture, infrastructural facilities, environment, tourism, forest, houses for the common, employment, water supply, solar energy and new schemes in various sectors.
10- My government took the revolutionary decision of giving a loan waiver to the farmers. The government has implemented the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana (MJPSKY) and a waiver of 20 thousand 234 crore rupees was given to 32 lakh farmers. This was a solace to the farmers and peasants who were delighted by the decision.
11 – Our policy is to assist the farmers to financially grow strong and independent. As a part of this, we are running the Balasaheb Thackeray State of Maharashtra Agribusiness and Rural Transformation (SMART) project. For making farmers more capable in the competitive atmosphere, developing the all inclusive value chain for the agricultural produce, Vikel te Pikel (taking the crops that will be sold) schemes have been started and lakhs of farmers have been benefited. Today five thousand farmer groups and companies are connected directly with the buyers of agricultural produce.
12- For helping the farmers and making them capable of using Technology, the e- Peek Pahani mobile application has been developed. In the first week of January, about 96 lakh farmers downloaded this application and got benefited by the scheme.
13 -Akshaya Urja, the new energy policy has brought energy revolution in Maharashtra. From the solar energy at the rooftop to the agricultural pump and also for the barren land, this energy will be a revolution. The power will be supplied to the farmers at low cost and it will also help in providing them the electricity at the daytime. The efforts for connecting their agricultural pumps with solar energy are in the pipeline. According to the new non conventional energy generating policy, five lakh solar agricultural pumps are being installed in the state.
14- The special repairing of water sources for increasing the irrigation capacity is been implemented in the state under the Mukhyamantri Jal Samvardhan Yojana and about eight thousand water resources are being repaired so as to press them into service.
15 -In the last two years huge amount of money is invested in the industrial sector of the state and 96 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU’s) worth one lakh 88 thousand 73 crore rupees has been signed. From October- 2019 to March -2021, the Foreign Direct Investment to the tune of rupees one lakh, 71 thousand 807 crore had been made in the state.
16- Some fundamental changes were made in the tourism sector of the state and it was rejuvenated. The status of ‘Industry’ was provided to hospitality sector. Concession in various taxes was also provided. There are more employment opportunities in this sector and it should be seen that the jobs are provided to the locals. The state had also started Agri Tourism, Adventure Tourism and other new ventures.
17 -We are planning to make Mumbai a global level tourist city and as a part of this, International tourism complex on 14 acres of land belonging to the government milk scheme, in Worli will be erected with the investment of one thousand crore.
18- The state is leading in constructions of road and infrastructural facilities. 75 percent of the construction of Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg has been completed and soon this highway will be partly open for the transportation.
19- Besides these, there are projects like that of enhancing the capacity of the Mumbai -Pune Yashwantrao Chavan Express Highway where the time of travelling is going to be reduced. Similarly, Bandra -Versova Sea Link Express Highway, Mumbai Trans- Harbor link, upliftment of coastal highway, a roundabout (ring) road adjacent to Pune city, the Revas- Reddy road coastal highway, Versova -Virar coastal route, the Samruddhi Highway connecting Jalna- Nanded Express Highway and other ambitious projects are also in progress.
20- More than 50 percent construction of the coastal route that will provide impetus to the Mumbai transportation has been completed. The entire project is expected to be completed by December -2023. This project will not only be of national repute, but will be globally known.
21- For giving more facilities to the people with the assistance of Technology, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation has recently started the WhatsApp Chatbot facility. Similar projects are in the pipeline for the other Municipal corporations. The transportation department had also given relief to the transporters by providing them many online facilities.
22- The construction of metro in Mumbai Metropolitan, Pune and Nagpur are going at a greater pace and soon some phases will be open for the public transportation. This will give a respite to the commuters. The 178 kilometer long metro route is in the pipeline. In Mumbai Metropolitan, 33.5 Kilometer long and fully underground Mumbai Metro line- 3 (Colaba Bandra SEEPZ) is one of its own kind in the entire nation. 71 percent of its construction is completed. The metro route in Pune metropolitan is also in progress. The Nagpur Metro project is also heading ahead with speed and 25 km long passenger route has been opened for the transportation.
23- My government has also taken the revolutionary decision of providing one percent concession in stamp duty to the women purchasers. Besides this, the historical BDD Chawl re-construction work had also been started in Mumbai. Soon the Dharavi re-development work will also gain momentum.
24 – Around 15 lakh 38 thousand houses are being built in the urban areas under the Pradhanmantri Awaas Yojna for providing the ownership houses to common people. Under the Maha Aawas Abhiyaan, four lakh 44 thousand houses have been constructed in the rural areas. This year too, the campaign is spearheading and five lakh houses will be soon taking shape.
25- The ‘Ghar Ghar Nal Se Jal’ scheme is run in the rural areas for providing pure, sufficient and sustainable water to the rural families. The government has provided 95 percent of tap connections. This water is supplied to the houses and as such it has given respite to the women of rural families as the hard task of bringing water from other sources that too from faraway places had now ended.
26 -In order to curb the cases of atrocity on women and children, the Shakti law has been passed recently in legislature.
27 -For educating the new generation about the inspirational life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, my government has undertaken the scheme of preservation and conservation of forts in the state. In the first phase, conservation of six fortresses is going to be done.
28- The state government has decided to give a fillip to the field of sport and bring the state on the global map. For this, the facilities at par with International standards for various sports are being provided and the government intends to construct a sports city in the Navi Mumbai.
29- Converting the crisis into opportunities, the state government has enhanced the infrastructural health facilities in the state. It had increased the laboratories, number of beds and medical equipments on a large scale. It was the first time in the nation that the task force of expert doctors at state and district level was constituted in Maharashtra. Separate task forces have been formed for children. We are going ahead by taking together all the experts from the health sector, the researches scholars and practitioner’s of the health field and making them participate in the process of development.
30- In last two years about 14.5 lakh free treatment and surgeries were carried out under the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana in the state. The government gave rupees two thousand 600 crore to the hospitals and in this way provided relief to the poor and downtrodden people of the state.
31 -For providing inexpensive meals to the poor and needy in the Covid-19 pandemic period, the state government had started the Shiv Bhojan Thali without charging them. Similarly, 25 lakh laborers were provided work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
Various schemes and programs were implemented in Maharashtra for providing respite to the building and construction laborers, Tribal Khavti Loan, auto and taxi drivers, children who have lost their parents, widows, the retired people under the Niraadhar Yojana and other destitute, too.
32- My government has taken the decision of replacing names based on caste in the urban as well as rural areas, villages and hamlets. The decision is taken to give ‘equitable’ names to these places and name them after great personalities.
33- For promoting higher education among the female- students of minority community, hostels in 23 educational complexes were constructed. Scholarships to both the boys and girls from minority community, educational loan through the Maulana Azad Minority Finance Development Corporation is also made available for them.
34- The City Surveillance system had been installed in the prime metropolitan cities of the state for maintaining the law and order situation. Now this system will also be implemented at the police headquarters and the sub-divisional police quarters in the state. This will help in the security of women, controlling the traffic, investigation of crimes and maintaining the law and order.
35- Pustakanche Gaon – One village of books will be established in every district of the state for preservation of literature and culture and for taking the reading movement to maximum people of the state.
36 -My government is supporting the startups in the state for encouraging the ideas of the youth. The financial assistance of 10 lakh rupees will be given for getting the patent for the startup and entrepreneurship in the initial stages so as to protect their intellectual property rights.
37- My government is committed for conservation of biodiversity heritage. For this, four biodiversity heritage sites have been identified in the state. Nine conservation reserve areas have been notified for strengthening the wildlife corridor in Western Ghat and Vidarbha region. Maharashtra is the first state in the entire nation for accepting and promoting the wildlife Action Plan.
38 – Maharashtra has bagged maximum awards in the cleanliness survey. Besides the rural areas, now the urban areas are also adopting the cleanliness movement.
39-My government is working for taking all the constituents of the society together and creating an ‘All inclusive’ progressive and developed Maharashtra.
40 -I appeal to all the people of the state that while celebrating the platinum jubilee of independence of India, we should all come together and pledge for creating a new and strong Maharashtra.
Once again I extend my greetings to all on Happy Republic Day.
Jay Hind Jay Maharashtra