Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Apr 29: Under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Maharashtra Cabinet today convened and approved 12 significant decisions, addressing a range of crucial issues including providing financial assistance to the families affected by the Pahalgam terror attack, promoting electric vehicles, boosting the shipbuilding and recycling sectors, regulating app-based vehicles, and revising the crop insurance policy for farmers.
Chief Minister Fadnavis informed reporters that the Cabinet decided to provide a financial aid of Rs 50 lakh to the families of those who tragically lost their lives in the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The Cabinet began its session by paying tribute to the victims.
The Chief Minister further stated that the state government would prioritize the education and employment of the children of the deceased families. Additionally, the government will offer jobs to the direct heirs of those killed in the attack. He specifically announced a job for the daughter of Santosh Jagdale from Pune, who was among the victims.
In a significant move towards promoting sustainable transportation, the Cabinet approved the Maharashtra Electric Vehicle Policy, 2025, along with the Aggregator Policy for app-based vehicles.
Furthermore, the Cabinet gave its nod to the Shipbuilding and ship repair facilities (Shipyard) and ship recycling policy. The Chief Minister emphasized that this policy would encourage the growth of these industries in the state, which is strategically located with two major ports and approximately 18 to 20 minor ports. Government sources anticipate that Maharashtra will emerge as a major player in this sector, following Gujarat.
Addressing widespread criticism from both ruling and opposition parties regarding alleged irregularities in the existing Rs 1 crop insurance schemes, the Chief Minister announced the Cabinet's approval of a revised crop insurance policy. He assured that this new policy would genuinely benefit deserving farmers rather than primarily serving the interests of insurance companies.
Expanding infrastructure, the Cabinet approved the construction of a six-lane elevated road and the six-laning of the existing Hadapsar to Yavat state road at a total cost of Rs 5262.36 crore.
The Cabinet also cleared the establishment of Maha InvIT (Infrastructure Investment Trust) under the Public Works Department and approved a revised expenditure of Rs 488.53 crore for the remaining works and dam leakage prevention work at the Temghar Project in Pune district.
In a move addressing social welfare, the Cabinet approved an amendment to the Maharashtra Begging Prohibition Rules, 1964, under the Mumbai Begging Prohibition Act, 1951. This amendment significantly increases the daily allowance for individuals residing in begging houses from Rs 5 to Rs 40. This marks the first amendment to these rules since their enactment in 1964.
Additionally, the Cabinet approved the implementation of the revised guidelines issued by the Central government for the Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for students belonging to OBC, EBC, and DNT categories under the umbrella scheme PM-YASASVI for the years 2021-22 to 2025-26.
The Cabinet also cleared the implementation of special programmes for the development of the Gowari community members of the Special Backward Category, aligning with the schemes implemented by the Tribal Development Department for Scheduled Tribes.
Finally, the Cabinet approved an increase in the limit of the personal loan interest repayment scheme of the Other Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation and the Vasantrao Naik Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes Development Corporation from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh.