Maharashtra Day: Govt aims to make state drought–free, says Governor

Mumbai: Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao on Friday sought the participation of corporates to help the government implement its ambitious integrated water conservation and management initiative, Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan. “The government has expressed its resolve to make Maharashtra drought–free. ‘More crop per drop’ will be the guiding motto of the government for using water efficiently,” he said addressing a gathering in Mumbai on the occasion of Maharashtra Day celebration. [caption id=“attachment_2222306” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  C Vidyasagar Rao. IBNLive[/caption] Maharashtra attained statehood on 1 May, 1960 and thus Maharashtra Day is being celebrated in various parts of the state. On the occasion, Rao took salute of a ceremonial parade held at Shivaji Park in Central Mumbai. “The state government is implementing the ‘Jalyukta Shivar Yojana’ under which water harvesting storages will be created in villages with the participation of gram sabhas. The government is also seeking the co-operation of corporates to take up this initiative as a part of corporate social responsibility,” he said. He said that skill development will be a priority for the state government. “The state will be launching the ‘Late Pramod Mahajan Skill Development Scheme’ to evaluate and integrate existing schemes of skill development and start new ones,” he said. He said the government has decided to implement the Aamdar Adarsh Gaon Yojana on the lines of the Saansad Adarsha Gram Yojana. “Around 1,000 villages will be developed under this scheme,” he said. “The state government has also decided to implement Mukhyamantri Gramin Marg Yojana under which good quality roads will be constructed to connect villages with growing population by 2019,” Rao said. On the lines of the Centre’s Smart City Mission, the state government intends to develop theme-based smart cities in 30 towns of Maharashtra, the Governor said. “The world heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora attract large number of foreign as well as domestic tourists. The government has announced Aurangabad as the second tourism district. With a view to boost tourism in the state, 2017 will be observed as ‘Visit Maharashtra Year’,” Rao said. As part of its efforts to prevent female foeticide and ensure education of girls, the state government has launched the ‘Mazi Kanya Bhagyashree Yojana’ on the lines of ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme’, he said. “I am particularly happy that the government has decided to give 5 per cent of total tribal sub-plan funds to gram panchayats in proportion of their population. This will help them in developing infrastructure, education, health, water conservation, forest and tourism facilities in villages in the scheduled areas,” he said. The government will also implement the ‘Dr Zakir Hussain Madrassa Modernisation scheme’ with its thrust on providing modern and scientific education to students, Rao added. PTI