Mumbai, Sep 9: In a major push to make Maharashtra’s public healthcare system more robust, accessible, high-quality, and technology-driven, the State Cabinet on Tuesday approved the ambitious state-level public health reform initiative titled PRAGATI (Primary Healthcare Reimagined with Advanced Governance and Accessible Technology Integration).

Announcing the decision, Minister for Public Health and Family Welfare Prakash Abitkar stated that the project will be implemented over a five-year period from 2026 to 2031 with an overall outlay of Rs 4,250 crore. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will fund 70% of the project cost through a loan of Rs 2,975 crore, while the remaining 30% (Rs 1,275 crore) will be borne by the Government of Maharashtra.

The PRAGATI project places a strong emphasis on the prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Key priority areas include diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular conditions, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), stroke, mental health, diabetic retinopathy, fatty liver disease, palliative care, and hospice services, said Minister Abitkar.

Additionally, the initiative will strengthen early screening and diagnostic infrastructure for breast, cervical, and oral cancers. Substantial resources will also be directed toward capacity building for healthcare staff, community counselling, awareness campaigns, and Behaviour Change Communication (BCC).

Under the newly introduced Maharashtra Health Technology Mission, the state aims to accelerate digital health transformation. The project will expand the footprint of Electronic health records and integrated health information systems, Telemedicine services, and Advanced digital health applications, the minister said.

The objective is to leverage technology to bring healthcare closer to citizens, streamline coordination across primary, secondary, and tertiary care levels, and ensure a seamless continuum of care for patients.

To reduce the overburdening of tertiary referral hospitals, the project allocates approximately Rs 1,500 crore in capital expenditure to enhance hospital infrastructure across five key districts, including Kolhapur, Nanded, Pune, Latur and Nagpur. This expansion will add a total of 1,600 hospital beds, allowing advanced diagnostic, treatment, and referral services to be addressed directly at the district level.

Minister Abitkar highlighted that the PRAGATI project will transform the public health landscape in Maharashtra. By integrating health services, leveraging digital governance, and enhancing clinical capacity, the initiative is designed to significantly lower out-of-pocket medical expenditures for citizens while accelerating the state’s progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG-3) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Mumbai, Sep 9: Launching a sharp attack on the Maharashtra government over the controversy surrounding the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), Shiv Sena (UBT) on Wednesday warned the state leadership against ignoring the growing anger among competitive exam aspirants, saying student resentment could have serious political consequences if unchecked.

The Thackeray camp in the party mouthpiece Saamana editorial referred to thousands of competitive exam aspirants taking to the streets in major cities, including Pune, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhaginagar, and Amravati demanding the immediate removal of the MPSC’s corrupt leadership, a thorough and impartial probe into the leak, and the enforcement of absolute transparency in competitive examinations.

The editorial slammed the systemic corruption within the commission, pointing out the leak during the MPSC Drug Inspector recruitment exam. It alleged that government posts are being auctioned off for millions of rupees, effectively destroying the dreams of hard-working, honest aspirants.

Criticising the police response, the Thackeray camp stated that while petty actors are being rounded up, the masterminds, ringleaders, and politically connected patrons behind the racket remain free under government protection.

“Selling exam papers for millions of rupees shatters the dreams of hardworking students aspiring for government jobs. While small-time operatives have been targeted, students express anger that key orchestrators and high-level backers of the paper leak syndicate remain free,” it noted.

Drawing a sharp parallel between political instability and institutional breakdown, the editorial asserted, “Those sitting in the commission leak exam papers, while those sitting in government leak political parties, MLAs, and corporators. Both are in the same business.”

Protestors in Pune echoed this sentiment with posters asking: “Have you been seated in power only to break MLAs?” it asked.

Pointing out Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s dominant influence over the state’s political landscape over the past decade, the editorial held the top leadership directly accountable for failing to curb paper leaks that continue to ruin young careers.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena condemned the state ministers for ignoring the agitating students and retreating into air-conditioned offices to interact with contractors. The editorial recalled the governance model under Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray during the Shiv Shahi era, where ministers were strictly instructed to step out, meet protestors face-to-face, and resolve public grievances on priority. In contrast, the current administration was described as acting like a passive, uncommunicative entity, completely detached from the concerns of the youth.

The Thackeray camp demanded the immediate arrest of all perpetrators and masterminds involved in the paper leak scam. “A government born out of splits and defections can yield nothing but leaks. Do not play with fire. If the rising tide of student rage turns into a wildfire, this broken government will be completely reduced to ashes,” it remarked.

Mumbai, Sep 8: Launching a scathing attack on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, and his faction, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief, Uddhav Thackeray, on Tuesday endorsed senior advocate Kapil Sibal’s argument in the Supreme Court requesting the freezing of the undivided party’s iconic ‘Bow and Arrow’ election symbol if a final decision on the party’s identity is delayed any further.

Addressing a press conference, Thackeray justified Sibal’s stance, asserting that those who “stole” the party, its name, and its symbol should not be permitted to exploit stolen property to consolidate power and engage in misgovernance.

“Four years have passed in this legal battle. Two major elections, municipal elections, and Zilla Parishad polls have taken place while the case drags on from date to date. We are bearing the brunt of these delays. Their misuse of the symbol to retain power must be halted,” he remarked.

Thackeray added that his party holds the rightful claim to the name and symbol, reiterating that the current rulers are incapable of governance and that the dispute should never have arisen in the first place.

“We shouldn’t have had to fight a legal battle to retain our own name and symbol in the first place,” Thackeray stated.

Directing his ire at the Election Commission of India (ECI), he questioned its impartiality. “The ECI is scrutinising our party constitution, yet it turns a blind eye to bogus political parties—like the six entities sharing an office in Naroda holding over Rs 620 crore in assets. Is the ECI auditing their constitutions, or should we assume the Commission is a partner in those donations?”

Rebutting Eknath Shinde’s remark that freezing the symbol equates to “freezing Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology,” Thackeray said, “Shinde and his associates are men with frozen minds. I won’t ask to send them to a cattle shed (gotha), because even livestock serve a purpose to humanity. These frozen-minded thieves have lost all moral right to speak on the Bow and Arrow.”

Beyond internal party matters, the former Chief Minister touched upon key public and political issues. Commenting on the nuisance caused by high-decibel DJ sound systems during festivals, Thackeray voiced support for restrictions, noting, “Everyone wants to celebrate festivals, but nobody wants intolerable noise pollution.”

Thackeray extended strong support to banning high-decibel DJ sound systems during major festivals like Ganeshotsav and Dahi Handi, advocating instead for traditional Indian musical instruments.

Drawing a historical parallel, Thackeray noted that Lokmanya Tilak transformed festivals into a mass movement for India’s freedom struggle, which later evolved into grand public celebrations. However, he cautioned that these celebrations should not degenerate into loud, disruptive noise.

“The sanctity of our festivals must be preserved; there is no need for utter chaos and noise,” Thackeray remarked. “Festivals are meant to bring joy to the public, not to cause distress. People want to celebrate, but they do not want the harassment that comes with extreme noise.”

Thackeray questioned the need for massive speaker stacks and complex decibel-monitoring protocols when traditional music instruments are readily available. He urged the administration to engage directly with festival committees (Ganeshotsav Mandals) and key stakeholders to establish clear time limits and reasonable guidelines through dialogue rather than coercion.

Taking a swipe at “Neo-Hindutva” proponents regarding controversial dance performances during Dahi Handi events, Thackeray asked whether such vulgarity aligns with their values, urging them to publicly clarify their stance on the matter.

On removal of PM Modi’s photographs by MNS activists in Pune college, Thackeray backed the decision to remove Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pictures alongside revered historical figures.

“Under no circumstances should the Prime Minister’s photograph be placed next to iconic national icons and great personalities,” he asserted.