26.01.2023: Governor Speech on the occasion of the Republic Day
Speech by the Governor of Maharashtra Honorable Mr Bhagat Singh Koshyari during the ceremony to mark the 73rd anniversary of the Republic Day of India organized at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Maidan in Dadar, Mumbai.
Sisters and brothers,
1-At the outset, I extend my greetings to the people of Maharashtra on the 73rd anniversary of the Republic Day of India.
2- I pay my respect and tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, Kranti Jyoti Savitribai Phule, Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and other great social reformers.
3- Out of the total of 701 km long Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeary Maharashtra Samruddhi Express Highway between Mumbai to Nagpur, my government has recently public dedicated 521 kilometer long route between Nagpur to Shirdi. This route has been opened for public transportation. 24 districts are attached to this Express Highway.
4- The work of metro route at Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune and Thane region is been done at greater pace and quality work is ensured. Honorable Prime Minister of the nation Mr Narendra Modi had recently inaugurated the Metro route- 2A and Metro route- 7. The second phase on this route has been opened for transportation. Metro route- , 2A and 7 are interconnected as a result; Mumbai got its first Metro network. The Mumbai Trans-Harbor link project (MTHL), Coastal Road and various developmental projects in Mumbai Metropolitan region had been speeded up.
5- New route has been constructed on the Khopoli- Khandala Ghat on Mumbai -Pune express highway. The Versova- Bandra Sea Link project, Thane Creek project, the Ring Road Project around Pune, Green Field -Konkan Expressway, Versova- Virar sea link project, Raigad district to Sindhudurg district coastal highway, Virar- Alibagh multi modal corridor project and the construction of other such projects has been accelerated.
6- For providing sufficient employment opportunities to the youths, 75 thousand vacant posts are filled up and the process has just started. Also, 18 thousand 331 posts of police constables will be filled.
7- 46 thousand 154 candidates were given employment in various companies, corporate houses and industries in December- 2022.
8- The increment of 10 thousand rupees had been made in the pension of freedom fighters and now they get rupees 20 thousand towards pension. Five thousand 406 freedom fighters are benefited by this decision.
9- All those persons who had struggled during the period of emergency are honored and the scheme in this regard had been started again.
10- My government has established the new Divyang Kalyan Vibhag for the welfare of differently able people (i.e. people with disabilities).
11- My government had distributed the Anandachya Shidha (Kit of joy) for just hundred rupees to one crore 56 lakh ration card holders during Diwali under the national food security and schemes for farmers.
12- Maharashtra had set the ambitious target of one trillion Dollar economy in consonance with the Nations target of achieving five trillion Dollar economy till 2026- 27.
13- Sub -committee of the state cabinet has accorded approval to 24 projects with the investment of 87 thousand 774 crore rupees. This will provide employment opportunities to 61 thousand and 40 people. The proposals for investment of 46 thousand 528 crore rupees from Marathwada and Vidarbha region, that will generate 47 thousand 890 employments, are received. This is more than half of the investment proposals and figure of employment opportunities.
14- Recently at the world economic meet in Davos, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for investment of rupees one lakh 37 thousand crore were signed and this shows the faith in the state.
15- The G20 meetings were recently held successfully in Mumbai and Pune cities of Maharashtra and few of the G20 meetings will be soon held in Nagpur and Aurangabad.
16- The Maharashtra Paushtik Trun dhaanya Abhiyan or Maharashtra Nutri -cereal campaign has been started in the state with the provision of 200 crore rupees.
17- My government has taken the decision to give incentive benefit of rupees 50 thousand each to all the farmers who are regularly paying the installments of the short term crop loan under the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Shetkari Karj Mukti Yojana. In the first phase, 2 thousand 637 crore rupees were transferred online in the accounts of seven lakh 20 thousand eligible account holders.
18- One thousand 12 crore rupees were deposited in the accounts of the close family members of those people who died due to Covid-19.
19- My government took the decision to give double amount of financial assistance then that of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to all those who have suffered loss to crops in the state between June2022 to October 2022 due to natural calamities. Seven thousand 311 crore rupees have been distributed, till date.
20- The stand of Maharashtra on the Maharashtra -Karnataka border issue is being firmly argued in the Supreme Court. The state legislature has unanimously passed the proposal of standing with the Marathi speaking people in the border region.
21- The Marathi Tituka Melwawa, the first World Conference-2023 for Marathi speaking people, inside the nation and abroad, was first held in Mumbai. My government has the target to organize such world level conference every year.
22- While celebrating the Amrit Mahotsav of independence of the nation, my government has provided the facility to all senior citizens above 75 years of age for travelling free in all types of buses run by State Transport Corporation. About four crore senior commuters have been benefited by this scheme.
23- Till 4th January 2023, about 22 lakh free treatment and surgery benefits were provided to common people of the state under the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Aarogya Yojana and Aayushman Bharat Pradhanmantri Jan Aarogya Yojana.
24- A working group has been formed under the chairmanship of the chief minister of the state for implementation of National Education Policy- 2020 (NEP).
25- Other Backward Class (OBC), Vimukt Jaati, Nomadic Tribes (VJNT) and Special Backward Class (SBC) students have been provided the facility of government hostels by hiring buildings. Approval for 74 crore rupees was accorded for the cause.
26- For creating awareness among the new generation about the inspiring life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the conservation of forts, temples and important preserved monuments is done in the state. 3percent of the funds has been allocated for these objectives in the district annual plan.
27- Amended administrative approval had been accorded to 29 water conservation projects in the state with an estimate of 33 thousand and 400 crore rupees. Due to this, the irrigation capacity of 5 lakh 87 thousand hectares of land can be achieved.
28- The Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan -2 scheme and Gaal Mukt Dharan (silt -free dam) and Gaalyukt Shivar (Sludge -inclusive shivar) scheme is been implemented in the state.
29- Individual tap connections to one crore 5 lakh 65 thousand rural families have been provided under the Jaljeevan mission.
30- My government has developed Migration Tracking System app for keeping a check on the malnutrition.
31- Till the end of November 2022, one lakh 98 thousand individual forest right claims, whereas eight thousand 500 community forest right claims have been accepted. One lakh 84 thousand hectares of forest land was approved for individual claims whereas 13 lakh 11thousand hectares of land was accorded approval for community claims.
32- One lakh nine thousand houses have been completed in the state under the Pradhanmantri Aawas Yojana (Urban) and the construction of 2.5 lakh houses is in progress. Under this scheme, the subsidy of 5 thousand 673 crore was made available to the beneficiaries. From 20 November 2022 to 31st March 2023, Amrit Maha Aawas Abhiyan-Rural was implemented in the state for the rural areas. Under this campaign, my government had set the goal of completing more than five lakh houses in the rural areas.
33- Approval in-principle has been accorded for declaring 18 new conservation reserves in the state in line with forest and wildlife conservation. This will take the figure of the Conservation Reserve Area in the state to 52.
34- While implementing the Mukhyamantri Krishi Vaahini Yojana for the agriculture sector of the state, the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MAHAGENCO) has completed the solar project of 207 Megawatt capacity. In near future the MAHAGENCO had plan to erect the Solar project with a total capacity of two thousand 763 Megawatts.
35- The sportsmen from the state has excelled in various competitions conducted at National and international level. My government stands firmly with all such players and the decision to give hefty increase in the amount of cash prizes to medal winners has been taken.
36- My government has established the Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC) on the lines of the central government.
37- Maharashtra Institution For Transformation (MITRA) institute has been established in the state on the lines of Niti Aayog and the State Economic Advisory Council (SEAC) has also been formed.
38- For resolving the disputes related to the possession of farmland and the ownership among the farmers, the Salokha Yojana has been implemented. Similarly, the Maha- Rajaswa Abhiyan will be implemented in an extended form.
39- Till date, assistance of one crore 60 Lakh rupees has been given to the journalists of the state under the Shankarrao Chauhan Suvarna Mahotsavi Patrakaar Nidhi. Under this scheme, 263 accredited journalists were provided assistance for treatment of chronic diseases. 154 senior journalists of the state are given rupees 11 thousand per month as pension under the Aacharya Bal Shastri Jambhekar Patrakaar Samman Yojana (APJ SY).
40- A total of 46 crore rupees had been distributed as compensation to the owners of livestock after the death of 18 thousand 432 cattle following the ‘Lumpy’ skin disease. Notably, Maharashtra is the first state to compensate the cattle rearers.
41- Various ventures are undertaken for eradication of Naxalism in the state. Similarly, a surrender scheme is also run for the Naxalists and this is getting positive results in the state.
42- My government is working for creating a progressive and developed Maharashtra by taking all the elements of the society together.
43- I appeal to all to come together and resolve to create a new and strong Maharashtra. Once again I wish one and all- A happy Republic Day.
Jay Hind Jay Maharashtra