Maharashtra government to focus on ‘secular, all-inclusive’ agenda

Mumbai: In a major deviation from its known pro-Hindutva stance of the past 30 years, the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi announced a “secular, all-inclusive” Common Minimum Programme as it prepared to form the new Maharashtra government in alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress on Thursday.

The preamble of the three parties’ Common Minimum Programme states: “The alliance partners commit to uphold the secular values enshrined in the Constitution. On contentious issues of national importance as well of state importance especially having repercussions/consequences on the secular fabric of the nation, the Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress will take a joint view after holding consultations and arriving at a consensus.”

The CMP focuses hugely on the burning issues of the farmers, unemployment problems, minorities, downtrodden sections, urban roads and housing, girl's and women’s issues, besides problems plaguing the industry, health sector and other fields for the overall public benefit in the state.

The CMP was announced at a joint press conference by Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde, NCP’s Jayant Patil, NCP national spokesperson Nawab Malik and Congress’ Balasaheb Thorat.

CMP’s major highlights are: Immediate loan waiver to farmers, prompt assistance to farmers suffering due to unseasonal rains and floods, revising the crop insurance scheme to ensure immediate compensation to farmers who have suffered crop losses, ensuring remunerative prices for farm produce and sustainable water supply schemes for the drought-hit regions. To address unemployment, the MVA regime will take immediate steps to fill up all vacant posts in the government, enact a law to provide 80 percent jobs to domiciled locals and provide fellowships to educated unemployed youth.

Spelling cheers for Mumbaikars, the MVA government said it will provide homes of 500 square feet free of cost to slum dwellers instead of 300 square feet in Mumbai as well as across Maharashtra, under the Slum Rehabilitation Programme, with best infrastructure and basic facilities.

The CMP also promises wholesome meals for only Rs 10 for common citizens, which was part of Sena’s original election manifesto.

To ensure proper implementation of the CMP, two committees - one within the state cabinet and another among the three alliance partners - will be formed for better coordination, they said.

For women, girls from economically weaker sections will be given free education, working women’s hostels will be built in cities and district headquarters, increased honorarium and better service conditions for Anganwadi sevikas/Asha workers, strengthening women’s Self Help Groups to empower them, while highest priority will be accorded to safety of women by the government. (IANS)

Also Read: Uddhav Thackeray takes oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister; 6 Ministers Sworn in

Also Watch: Jyoti Kendra Siksha Karmi staged sit in demonstration in front of Axom Sarba Siksha Abhiyaan office