Maharashtra to Transform Rapidly Through Partnerships with Voluntary Organisations – Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Agreements with Tata Trusts and Naam Foundation to take multi-sector development across the state

Mumbai, Feb 2026 : Maharashtra continues to leave a distinct mark on the nation’s progress across multiple sectors. Expressing confidence that the pace of development will be sustained and accelerated through partnerships with voluntary organisations, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that Maharashtra will undergo rapid transformation through such collaborations. He was speaking at Sahyadri Guest House during the signing of agreements with Tata Trusts and the Naam Foundation. The Chief Minister said these agreements would help deliver development across diverse sectors throughout Maharashtra.

On the occasion, Rural Development Minister Jaykumar Gore, Soil and Water Conservation Minister Sanjay Rathod, Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare, and Minister of State for Public Health Meghna Bordikar–Sakore were present.

Chief Minister Fadnavis said that improving health, nutrition, water security and livelihoods for every family in the state is a top priority of the government. These partnerships will help make various welfare schemes more people-centric and effective. Government initiatives are increasingly taking the form of mass movements, and with the cooperation of Tata Trusts, the state will be able to create a strong positive impact through different departments. The resulting rise in incomes and improvement in living standards across all sections of society will be significant.

Referring to healthcare, the Chief Minister said that expensive treatments for critical illnesses often limit access for ordinary citizens, but the state is working towards ensuring that no one dies for want of treatment. He noted that Tata Trusts have made substantial contributions to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, enabling assured assistance to needy patients.

Fadnavis further said that the Maharashtra government has been working with Tata Trusts for the past ten years. True partnerships, he said, are not merely about funding but about working on the ground to create social impact—something Tata Trusts have consistently done. These multi-dimensional agreements will help strengthen healthcare services for mothers, newborns, children and adolescents; address stunting and malnutrition; promote dietary diversity for better nutrition; ensure sustainable conservation and management of water resources; and encourage climate-resilient agriculture and livestock development in rural Maharashtra.

He also highlighted the extensive work done by Naam Foundation in the field of water conservation. In recent years, large-scale desilting of water bodies, deepening and widening of streams and rivers have been undertaken. The state’s flagship Jalyukt Shivar Yojana was implemented successfully and evolved into a people’s movement. With the participation of Naam Foundation, major water conservation works were carried out in low-rainfall areas of Vidarbha and Marathwada, with support from Tata Motors, he added.

Chairman of Tata Trusts Noel Tata said the organisation will work in partnership with the Maharashtra government to bring convergence in health, education, nutrition, livelihoods, water and sanitation programmes. The focus will be on improving the quality of life of all citizens by generating positive outcomes in collaboration with government departments and communities. He said the memoranda of understanding signed today formally establish a strategic partnership to support the state’s integrated development.

Founder of Naam Foundation Nana Patekar also expressed satisfaction over the cooperation received from the government in implementing water conservation initiatives.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal; Health Secretary Dr Nipun Vinayak; Secretary (Women and Child Development) Anup Kumar Yadav; Tata Trusts CEO Siddharth Sharma; Makarand Anaspure; and senior officials of Tata Trusts and Naam Foundation.

Objective of the Agreements
The MoUs aim to support government priorities in health, nutrition, water conservation and rural livelihoods through technology, digital innovation and last-mile connectivity; ensure effective implementation of key welfare schemes at the community level; provide financial assistance to needy patients through tie-ups with six accredited hospitals in Nagpur; and enable affordable treatment for critical illnesses under the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Scope of the Agreements
The partnerships will strengthen healthcare services for mothers, newborns, children and adolescents; expand access to treatment through telemedicine and other platforms; improve comprehensive primary healthcare in urban and remote areas; enhance emergency response through integrated emergency management services; address stunting, underweight and malnutrition among children under two; tackle adolescent malnutrition and anaemia; strengthen distribution of schemes such as Take-Home Ration with special focus on districts like Gadchiroli; rejuvenate lakes, desilt reservoirs and rivers, and improve groundwater recharge; implement soil and water conservation programmes with special emphasis on drought-prone regions including Marathwada and Vidarbha; promote climate-resilient agriculture; support forest-based and rural non-farm livelihoods; and achieve integrated village development by converging health, education, nutrition, water, sanitation and livelihoods.

Details of the Agreements
The Maharashtra government has signed a total of 12 agreements with Tata Trusts, covering departments and institutions including Rural Development, Soil and Water Conservation, Public Health, Women and Child Development, Gadchiroli district administration, the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, the National Cancer Institute, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Central India Institute of Medical Sciences, Care Hospital, Swami Vivekanand Medical Mission and Midas Multi-Specialty Hospital. Separate agreements have also been signed with Naam Foundation and Tata Motors in collaboration with the Water Conservation Department.