Mumbai: A technology-friendly initiative for the Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s healthcare system, a key MoU was signed between Mumbai Municipal Corporation and Fractal Analytics Limited today (July 3, 2026) in the presence of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide. EducationVidya AI, a dedicated platform for the healthcare sector, has been launched to simplify the day-to-day operations of the municipal corporation’s healthcare system with the help of technology.

This AI-based initiative has been provided with facilities like enhancing interaction with citizens, providing primary care, interacting with multilingual citizens and helping hospital administrations in increasing efficiency. The platform will be used on a pilot basis for the municipal corporation’s healthcare system.

Additional Municipal Corporation Commissioner Prajakta Verma Longre, Deputy Commissioner (Commissioner’s Office) Mr. Prashant Gaikwad, Deputy Commissioner (Public Health) Sharad Uday, Directorate (Medical Education and Major Hospitals) Shailesh Mohte and Fractal Analytics Limited officers Srikanth Velmakani, Suraj Amunkar, Shubang and other officers were present on the occasion. Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ashwini Bhide said on the occasion that the AI-based initiative will help the administration in addressing various challenges in the healthcare sector in Mumbai. This system will be an alternative to supporting the work of a large number of medical staff and doctors in the municipal system. Such technology-friendly initiatives will enable the workforce in the health system to be more focused. The AI-based step taken by the Municipal Corporation is a major step towards making the health system more efficient. Additional Municipal Corporation Commissioner (City) Prajakta Verma Longre expressed confidence that this system will contribute more effectively to the workforce in the health system and make the work of doctors more convenient in their daily tasks.

AI-based interaction with the patient and pre-consultation information will help doctors provide more appropriate advice and treatment in the outpatient department. The Vaidya AI platform will be useful in making information related to blood test reports related to patients available to the citizens in simple language. The Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) system currently implemented in the hospitals of the Municipal Corporation will be linked to the Vaidya AI system. In addition, information related to important health facilities and the health sector will be provided to the citizens in different languages. Along with the WhatsApp chatbot system of the Municipal Corporation, the hospital and administrative work portal will also be linked to the Vaidya AI chatbot. Therefore, the main objective of this system is to reduce the pressure on administrative work and provide artificial intelligence support to the medical sector employees in their daily work. The system will help in simplifying administrative work through a dashboard. The Vaidya AI Platform is part of the India AI Mission and has collaborated in developing the AI ​​Foundational Model. The organization has collaborated in promoting technology at the health and administrative levels in various state and government organizations.

The health institutions of the Municipal Corporation, Raje Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital, Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar General Hospital (Kandivali), Rajwadi Hospital and the Municipal Corporation Dispensary will use the system for a pilot period. Through this system, it will be possible for the Municipal Corporation’s health system to conduct employee training on the use of the system, citizen feedback and review the security of the system.

Mumbai: To address the growing concerns of gig, part-time and platform workers regarding fair wages, social security, and protection from exploitative practices, Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East, Raees Sheikh, introduced a private member’s bill in the Legislative Assembly on Friday, July 3. Introducing the bill, MLA Raees Sheikh said that the “Maharashtra Gig and Platform (Online) Workers Rights and Protection Bill, 2026” imposes strict compliance obligations on platform companies. The bill proposes the establishment of a regulatory board to ensure social security for workers and monitor their welfare. In the state, part-time and platform workers, including delivery partners and drivers, have staged several strikes and protests demanding fair wages, social security, and protection against exploitative practices. Through these protests, they have highlighted issues like unsafe working conditions, lack of social security, algorithmic exploitation, and arbitrary punishments.

MLA Raees Sheikh added that while the existing labour laws including the Social Security Code (2020) provide a national legal framework for workers, the central code lacks provisions on state-level implementation, wage protection, algorithmic transparency, and grievance redressal. Therefore, a comprehensive state-level framework is necessary to protect gig and platform workers in Maharashtra.
Maharashtra leads the country in the number of registered platform workers (134,705), followed by Uttar Pradesh (130,505) and Bihar (109,207). A 2022 NITI Aayog report estimated India’s workforce at 7.7 million, which is expected to increase to 20 million by 2029-30. Consequently, speaking to the media outside the House, MLA Raees Sheikh urged the government to convert the Private Member’s Bill policy into a government bill and ensure protection for temporary employees.

Mumbai: In the backdrop of continuous heavy rains in Mumbai, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde today (July 3, 2026) conducted a self-inspection of various areas of Ward No. 132 (Ghatkopar East). The Mayor, along with the administrative officials, inspected various places and gave necessary instructions so that the citizens do not face any kind of trouble due to heavy rains and appropriate measures should be taken immediately for this.

Local MLA Prag Shah, Corporator Dharmesh Giri and concerned officers and engineers of the N Division Office of the Municipal Corporation were present during the inspection.

Mayor Ritu Tawde paid special attention to the rapid drainage of rainwater in the low-lying and very low-lying areas of Ghatkopar East. During today’s visit, she gave the following important instructions and directions.

Orders were given to construct new drains for water drainage outside all the buildings and to install concrete covers on the manholes as part of the redevelopment in the entire constituency. He said that the construction of a new drain outside the Ruparel building near Sankalp Sewa should be started immediately. New pipes will be made to drain the water accumulated outside the buildings. Mayor Ritu Tawde also directed to install a dhapa cover on the footpath of Vidya Bhavan Road, Bhajan Samaj Marg (opposite Gurudwara Palace). The Mayor said that a new rainwater drain should be installed near Dr. Hedgewar Udayan, so that the rainwater flowing from the road is stopped and flows directly into the storm drain. He directed to install nets and covers on the pipes along the footpath at various places on Pushpa Vihar Marg.

A new manhole should be constructed at the entrance of Pragati Chili and a safe cover should be installed. Besides, safety railings should be installed on both sides of the drain behind Pragati Chili. Apart from this, Mayor Ritu Tawde directed to make a safe path for citizens to cross the drain and go to the toilet and to install safety railings on it.

Meanwhile, to avoid congestion due to parking on both sides of Nath Pai Road, he directed the Traffic Police Department to enforce ‘no parking’ here and provide safe ‘crossing’ for pedestrians under the Metro Flyover. The Mayor directed the Parks Department to plan to develop a beautiful garden on private land at the Garodia Nagar Federation site through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. He also directed to keep the roots of trees clean so that the trees are not damaged due to road works. Along with this, the Mayor directed the concerned department to start the dog vaccination and disinfection campaign as soon as possible to control the problem of dogs.

During the monsoon season, the safety and convenience of citizens is the top priority of the Municipal Corporation. The ward I represent has many low-lying areas. Mayor Ritu Tawde said that the local administration is working with full capacity to ensure quick drainage of rainwater and the infrastructure works are of good quality. Mayor Ritu Tawde, MLA Prag Shah, Corporator Dharmesh Giri and other public representatives, as well as officers and employees, were inspecting the roads in heavy rain. The local citizens welcomed the inspection. The citizens expressed hope that all the directed works will be completed soon.