Karmayogi 2.0 and Sarpanch Samvad Programme for Empowerment of Village, Taluka and District Administration

With the objective of ensuring effective implementation of development-oriented programmes at the village, taluka and district levels, the State Cabinet has decided to implement the District Karmayogi Programme 2.0 and the Sarpanch Samvad Programme to build the capacities of sarpanches across the state. The Cabinet meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Both these programmes will be implemented through the Mitra organisation.

The District Karmayogi 2.0 programme will be implemented at the village, taluka and district levels. Under this initiative, the skills of officials directly involved in service delivery, as well as officers and employees at the last mile of local administration, will be enhanced. The programme will focus on resolving issues faced by agriculture-related economic entities such as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), industrial units, and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), with the aim of increasing district-level GDP. Emphasis will be placed on improving government-to-business services at the district level. Cooperation among various departments will be strengthened, and participation in data collection, coordination and decision-making processes will be encouraged.

Officials who work directly among the people—such as agriculture officers, junior engineers and executive engineers, gram sevaks, talathis, agriculture assistants, multipurpose health workers, irrigation canal inspectors, district and assistant statistical officers, as well as statistical inspectors and investigators—will be empowered through this programme. Approximately 85,000 officers across the state will be provided training.

For the Sarpanch Samvad Programme, a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Quality Council of India (QCI), Mitra, and the VSTF Foundation. Under this programme, around 20,000 sarpanches in the state are expected to receive training.

The training will primarily focus on financial autonomy and resources, implementation of government schemes, long-term planning to strengthen gram panchayats, empowerment of women members, identification of implementation gaps and overcoming them, as well as inclusive and relevant training for various groups. The training will be delivered through experts as well as via e-learning, webinars, in-app training, virtual sessions and workshops.

Regularisation of Appointments of 291 Health Workers in the State

The Cabinet meeting approved granting authority to Divisional Commissioners to regularise the appointments of 291 bonded health workers (female) who are currently working or have retired from the Health Department under Zilla Parishads in the state. The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

As per the earlier system, posts of Health Worker (Female) under Zilla Parishads were filled for a period of two years from among candidates trained at government nursing colleges through the Directorate of Health Services under the Public Health Department. After the completion of this period, these candidates were relieved from service. Subsequently, considering the requirement of patient care in the respective districts and the status of vacant posts, Divisional Commissioners had the authority to grant temporary appointments for 11 months. However, this authority of the Divisional Commissioners was withdrawn in 2018.

As per the Cabinet decision, authority has now been granted to Divisional Commissioners to regularise the services of 291 bonded health workers (female) who were appointed before April 15, 2015, and who are either currently in service or have retired from the Health Department under Zilla Parishads in the state.

Land Allotted in Dharashiv for the Statue of Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe

The Cabinet meeting approved the allotment of one acre of land belonging to the Dairy Development Department in Dharashiv city to the Dharashiv Municipal Council for the installation of a statue of Sahityaratna Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe. The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The Dharashiv Municipal Council will install the statue of Sahityaratna Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe. Public representatives and various organisations had demanded that land be provided for this purpose. Accordingly, the Cabinet approved the free allotment of one acre of land of the government milk chilling centre located at Survey No. 426 in Dharashiv city.

Membership and Voting Rights for Directly Elected Presidents of Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats

Ordinance to be Issued for Amendment to the Act

The Cabinet has decided to promulgate an ordinance to amend the Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats and Industrial Townships Act, 1965, to grant membership and voting rights to directly elected presidents of municipal councils and nagar panchayats. The Cabinet meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

A person who is eligible to be elected as a member of a municipal council or nagar panchayat is also eligible to be elected as president. Therefore, a person can be elected as president and, at the same time, as a member, and can be elected to both positions. Such a person receives a mandate for both posts. Hence, a person elected as president from among the members continues to remain a member and functions simultaneously as both president and member.

Both directly elected presidents and presidents elected from among the members receive a public mandate. Accordingly, under the proposed amendment, a person directly elected as president and directly elected as a member will be able to hold both posts simultaneously. The president will also be granted the right to cast one vote as a member. Such a person will have the right to cast one vote either as president or as member, and in the event of a tie, the president will have the right to cast a casting vote. The Cabinet has approved the issuance of an ordinance to effect this amendment.