Address on the occasion of 66th Anniversary of the Indian Republic Day
Address by Shri CH Vidyasagar Rao, Governor of Maharashtra on the occasion of 66th Anniversary of the Indian Republic at Shivaji Park, Mumbai at 9.00 AM on Tuesday, 26th January, 2016
Sisters and Brothers,
1. I extend my heartiest greetings and good wishes to the people of Maharashtra on the occasion of the 66th anniversary of the Indian Republic. This is a day to reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the ideals and democratic values enshrined in the Constitution.
2. The nation will be celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna late Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar this year. The Government of Maharashtra has set aside an outlay of Rs.125 crore for this purpose. I am pleased to state that the Government of India has decided to develop five national monuments associated with the life and work of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar as Panchteerths. It is a matter of pride for the people of Maharashtra that two of these five places are situated in the State.
3. In keeping with the motto of Minimum Government, Maximum Governance, the Government has launched online 47 services from out of the 252 notified services under the Right to Services Act.
4. Encouraged by the success of Aaple Sarkar Phase One, my Government has launched Phase II of the project to enable people to share their ideas and suggestions with government and to communicate their grievances.
5. I am pleased to state that the Government has taken up and decided to expedite important infrastructure projects such as Mumbai–Nagpur super communication expressway, Mumbai coastal road, Mumbai trans-harbour link, metro projects in Nagpur, Pune and Mumbai and the international airport at Navi Mumbai.
6. You will be pleased to know that Maharashtra will be hosting the ‘Make in India week’ in Mumbai next month to showcase India’s potential in the manufacturing sector to the world.
7. In order to strengthen the safety and security of citizens, the government has decided to bring many parts of State under digital surveillance. I am pleased to state that Pune has become the first city to be brought under CCTV surveillance. The project has also been implemented in South Mumbai.
8. The Government has decided to award special scholarships to youths from the State preparing for the all India services examinations conducted by the UPSC, with the objective of increasing the quantum of successful candidates from the state in these examinations.
9. As part of its commitment to promote skill development among youths, a special drive has been launched to provide apprenticeship training to one lakh youths under the trade apprenticeship scheme. I am happy to state that the State’s first IIM at Nagpur has been commissioned.
10. Many parts of the State are facing drought situation even this year affecting 15747 villages in the current kharif season. The Government has announced a special package of Rs.10,512 Crore during the winter session of the State Legislature to provide relief to the farmers. Of this, Rs.2000 crore has been disbursed to the affected farmers.
The Government has been providing foodgrains to the farmers from 14 drought-affected districts under National Food Security Scheme. In all, 68 lakh saffron colour ration card holders are being provided wheat at Rs.2 per kilogram and rice at Rs.3 per kilogram under the scheme.
11. My Government has launched the late Gopinath Munde Farmers’ Accident Insurance Scheme to provide social and economic security to farmers and their families.
12. The Government will implement the new Pradhanmantri Fasal Bima Yojana to enable individual small farmers to get full compensation in case of crop damage due to natural calamities, from this Kharif season in the State. The Scheme will benefit the farmers who have not availed any loan.
13. I am happy to state that my Government has decided to install 10,000 solar agricultural pumps under the Atal Saur Krishi Pump Yojana.
14. The Government is taking various measures for the inclusive development of rural areas, including rural cleanliness campaign, supply of safe and pure drinking water, construction of roads for better connectivity and Smart Gram Panchayats. Village connectivity is being improved through the Mukhya Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
15. As a tribute to former President of India late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, my Government has launched the APJ Abdul Kalam Amrut Yojana to provide free nutritious meal to pregnant and lactating mothers in tribal areas.
16. The Government is working towards the goal of making Maharashtra open defecation free and ensuring 100 per cent segregation, collection and processing of Municipal Solid Waste as an extension of the Swachh Maharashtra Abhiyan. Many Municipal Councils are experimenting innovative ideas to make our cities and towns clean and green. I am happy to state that 50 towns from Maharashtra will become Swachh by the end of this year.
17. As many as 43 cities from Maharashtra have been selected under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) Scheme. The scheme aims to provide cities with amenities such as water supply, sanitation, open spaces and a pollution-free environment. The Centre has approved an outlay of Rs.2,077.96 crore for the project. Further, ten cities in Maharashtra have been selected under the Smart City Mission.
18. In a move towards empowerment of women, 314 women have been given auto rickshaw permits across Maharashtra.
19. It is a matter of great satisfaction that the Sinhastha Kumbh Mela held at Nashik-Trimbkeshwar went off peacefully. I congratulate the State Government and all other organisations and individuals for the successful conduct of the mega event.
20. Before I conclude, I extend, once again, my greetings to the people of the State on the happy occasion of the Republic Day. Let us rededicate ourselves to achieve excellence in all walks of life.
Jai Hind! Jai Maharashtra!!
***