Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday directed all districts to launch separate time-bound campaigns to repair and upgrade infrastructure at schools, residential schools, Ashram schools, Anganwadi centres, primary health centres and sub-centres, ITIs and technical education institutions across the state.
The directive was issued during a meeting focused on the maintenance and repair of buildings and facilities used by educational, healthcare and other public institutions. The government said the exercise would involve district-level coordination between multiple departments and would be carried out according to short- and long-term action plans.
Districts asked to prepare plans for up to four years
Fadnavis said funding should not be a constraint when it comes to providing essential facilities at educational institutions and primary healthcare centres.
"Giving top priority to the improvement of foundational institutions in the education and health sectors and using available resources effectively will bring positive transformation to every district."
He directed each district to prepare action plans covering six months, one year and three to four years, allowing immediate repair requirements to be separated from larger infrastructure projects.
"Each district should prepare short-term and long-term action plans spanning periods of six months, one year, and three to four years."
The plans are expected to cover repairs, maintenance, infrastructure gaps and requirements for improving basic facilities at the institutions covered by the campaign. The government has not specified a single statewide deadline for completing all works, with implementation to be organised at the district level.
Collectors to lead district-level implementation
Fadnavis said officials from the education, health, women and child development, tribal development, social welfare and technical education departments should be brought into the campaign.
"For this campaign, the District Collector will act as Director, while the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad and the Chief Officer or Commissioner of the respective urban local body will serve as Co-Directors," he added.
He also called for regional-level officers to be given the powers required to take decisions and said responsibility for implementation should be clearly assigned.
"Regional-level officers should be delegated necessary powers, and their accountability must be fixed."
Senior officers, he said, should regularly monitor the progress of the work and identify shortcomings. The intention is to bring different departments involved in maintaining public institutions under a common district-level framework rather than dealing with individual infrastructure requirements separately.
Multiple funding sources to be pooled
The Chief Minister said districts should combine funds available through different government programmes and other sources to finance institutional improvements.
"Funds from the District Planning Committee, various schemes, CSR funds, public contributions, the Hill Area Development Programme, and other available financial sources should be pooled together and utilised for institutional improvement."
The proposal envisages using existing financial resources more efficiently rather than relying on a single department or funding stream for repairs and upgrades.
Fadnavis also suggested considering modular infrastructure options for primary health centres, which could provide an alternative where conventional construction or expansion may take longer.
He directed the Finance Department and the concerned secretaries to issue detailed Government Resolutions covering decentralised workflows, the use of District Planning Committee funds and the prioritisation of expenditure.
Review ordered for rented hostels and Anganwadi centres
The Chief Minister also ordered a review of hostels, Anganwadi centres and Ashram schools operating from rented premises.
"A review should be conducted of hostels, Anganwadi centres, and Ashram schools running in rented buildings to inspect whether students are receiving essential facilities. Planning should be done to set up infrastructure using new lease models. Actions regarding students' residence, meals, and other basic amenities must be taken with sensitivity," the Chief Minister said.
The review is intended to assess whether students using such facilities have access to basic amenities and whether continuing to operate from rented buildings is appropriate. The government is also considering new lease-based arrangements for infrastructure where required.
Proposal sought for Anganwadi centres in civic schools
Fadnavis also asked officials to submit a proposal following a request from Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare to establish Anganwadi centres in municipal corporation schools.
The move would require coordination between the Women and Child Development Department and urban local bodies, including municipal corporations. The Chief Minister directed that the proposal be submitted for further consideration.
The state Women and Child Development Department currently oversees Anganwadi-related programmes and identifies the centres as part of its child development and nutrition infrastructure.
Fadnavis also directed action on a demand from Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat concerning department-run hostels that have very low student enrolment, operate largely on a nominal basis or lack essential facilities.
According to the directive, such hostels should be examined and those that do not serve their intended purpose could be closed.
(With inputs from IANS)
* This article was originally published here
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