Ajit Pawar, Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis (ANI)
The Maharashtra government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has set a precedent by becoming the first state in India to implement the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for its employees. This significant move follows the Union Cabinet's decision, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to introduce the scheme nationwide just a day earlier.
The Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by CM Shinde, convened on Sunday to make this landmark decision. The UPS will be effective from March of this year and will extend its benefits to all state government employees. This development is particularly notable as the tenure of the Maharashtra Assembly is set to end in November, with elections expected to take place in October-November.
On Saturday, the central government, under PM Modi approved the UPS for central government employees who joined the service after January 1, 2004. These employees, previously under the National Pension Scheme (NPS), will now have the option to switch to UPS, which guarantees an assured pension of 50 percent of the average basic pay drawn over the last 12 months before retirement. The minimum qualifying service requirement has been set at 25 years.
In addition to the UPS implementation, the Maharashtra Cabinet has given the green light to several major initiatives. One of the most significant is the Rs 7,000 crore Nar-Par-Girna river linking project. This ambitious project is aimed at benefiting the northern districts of Maharashtra, particularly Nashik and Jalgaon.
The project involves lifting 9.19 TMC of water from the Nar, Par, and Auranga rivers, channeling it through a 14.56-kilometre tunnel, and releasing it into the Girna river basin near the Chankapur dam. It is expected to provide irrigation to around 50,000 hectares of agricultural land.
The Cabinet has also approved the expansion of the uninterrupted power supply scheme to benefit more farmers across the state, ensuring they receive power during the day. This move is expected to significantly boost agricultural productivity and support rural livelihoods.
Thane, the home district of CM Eknath Shinde, is set to benefit from several major infrastructure projects. The state government plans to raise Rs 5,000 crore through equity and bonds under the Mahatma Phule Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Technology Ltd for an ambitious project in Thane. The total cost of this initiative is estimated at Rs 6,049 crore and includes cluster housing projects in various areas, including Tekdi Bungalow, Hajuri, Kisan Nagar, Chavindre, and Pogaon.
Several other significant decisions were made during the Cabinet meeting:
Medicity and Mangrove Park: The Cabinet approved the development of a medicity, a mangrove park, a chemical hub, and a digital university, with a total expenditure of Rs 10,000 crore.
Revenue Relief for Udayanraje Bhosale: The Cabinet extended revenue relief for land owned by BJP Lok Sabha member Udayanraje Bhosale to his successors.
Support for MSEDCL: The Cabinet granted a government guarantee for a Rs 29,000 crore payment to the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) to clear its dues.
Wage Increase for ASHA Facilitators: A Rs 4,000 wage increase for ASHA facilitators, effective from April, was approved, requiring an additional outlay of Rs 17.59 crore.
Cooperative Sugar Mills: The Cabinet approved a proposal holding the entire board of directors of cooperative sugar mills responsible for loan repayment, both individually and collectively.
Scholarships for Students: The Cabinet approved 100 percent scholarships for 763 eligible students of the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute, with a Rs 37 crore allocation.
Slum Rehabilitation in Mumbai: A plan to expedite 228 slum rehabilitation projects in Mumbai was approved, aiming to construct 2,18,931 houses in collaboration with various corporations, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
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