Mumbai: Raising concerns over the growing number of orphaned children in the country, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MP from Mumbai North-West, Ravindra Waikar, on Wednesday urged the government to include a special column for orphans in the upcoming 2027 Census. He made this demand in the Lok Sabha under Rule 377, drawing the attention of the House to the issue.

Waikar said that according to UNICEF data, India has nearly 2.5 crore orphaned children, many of whom lack any form of support. Despite being one of the largest population surveys in the world, the national census has so far failed to record the number of such children. He reminded the House that the Supreme Court had earlier expressed concern over the increasing number of orphaned children and directed states to conduct surveys to identify them.

The court had also emphasized that these children must receive all benefits guaranteed under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. “Including a special column for orphaned children in the 2027 Census, as suggested by the Supreme Court, will ensure that they are identified and provided with their rightful access to education and welfare schemes. It is both a moral and constitutional responsibility to secure their future,” Waikar said in his submission.

The proposal, tabled through the Lok Sabha Speaker, stressed that only through accurate enumeration in the Census can the government effectively plan policies to safeguard the lives and futures of orphaned children.

Mumbai: In a major development, the state has decided to exclude the component of purchasing new AC rakes for Mumbai Suburban Services from the Mumbai Urban Transport Project III and III-A. Instead of availing a loan, the state will bear 50 per cent of the cost, amounting to Rs 2413 crore, for purchasing 268 new AC rakes by disbursing the amount from its annual budget.

Earlier, while signing the agreement for the implementation of the MUTP III and 3A with the central government, the state was supposed to raise the required funds through a loan. For the MUTP III, the state and the centre have raised Rs 3500 crore through a loan from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which will be repaid on a 50:50 sharing basis. For the MUTP III-A, Rs 33,690 crore needed to be raised equally by the centre and the state.

Now, the state has, in consultation with the central government, decided to exclude the part of procuring new AC rakes by availing loans and instead will bear 50 per cent of the total cost of the 268 AC rakes, sources in the know of the developments. The state can make the required provision in its annual budget for the coming years, as the new ranks will take some time, sources said.

Approval Given

On Tuesday, the cabinet committee on infrastructure gave its approval, and the proposal was forwarded to the central government for necessary approval. It might take a few months, and the central government will also make available its share, added the sources. The total cost of the MUTP III-A, approved by the state government in 2018, is huge considering the gamut of the projects, which includes development of new stations, new rakes, 3rd and 4th line between Kalyan and Badlapur, 5th and 6th line between Borivali and Virar, 4th lane between Kalyan and Asangaon, extending the harbour line between Goregaon and Borivali, remodelling of Kalyan Junction to separate the main line and the suburban line etc.

The cost of the MUTP III-A is expected to be shared by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, CIDCO and MMRDA as well. The project has achieved just 6 per cent physical progress to date. On the other hand, the MUTP III has achieved 42 per cent, and the MUTP II has achieved 87 per cent physical progress.

Mumbai: With heavy rains over the past few days causing flood-like situation in parts of Maharashtra, state Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal has urged the Devendra Fadnavis-led government to declare a “wet drought” and provide urgent assistance of Rs 50,000 per hectare to the affected farmers.

Incessant rains over the past few days in various parts of the state, including capital Mumbai and its metropolitan region, threw life out of gear. Hundreds of people had to be shifted to safety due to flooding, which also damaged crops on a large scale.

In a letter addressed to CM Fadnavis, Sapkal said due to the recent downpour, floodwaters have entered agricultural lands, severely damaging standing crops.

“It is estimated that more than 15 lakh acres of farmland across the state has suffered extensive damages,” he said.

Around 17 districts in Marathwada, Vidarbha and Western Maharashtra regions have been worst hit, while North Maharashtra and Konkan regions have also reported significant losses, he said.

Major crops, such as jowar, bajra, urad, maize, soybean, moong, cotton, tur, fruits and vegetables, have suffered extensive damages, while sugarcane cultivated on thousands of hectares of land has also been affected, he added.

In some areas, farmers have even lost livestock, and Nanded district has reported loss of human lives, the Congress leader said.

“The already distressed farmers are now facing yet another natural calamity,” Sapkal said.

While the government has issued orders to conduct crop damage assessments (panchnamas), he urged the state to set aside all rules, conditions, and procedures in this time of crisis and immediately extend financial assistance to farmers.

He also demanded that the families of those who lost their lives be provided with compassionate support and relief.

On Tuesday, CM Fadnavis told reporters that crops spread across 12 to 14 lakh acres of land have been damaged due to heavy rains lashing different parts of the state.