‘Seva Sankalp’ Campaign Delivers Direct Benefits of Government Schemes to Hundreds of Citizens
Thane, October 2026: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Thane district guardian minister Eknath Shinde has urged government officials and employees to serve the public with sincerity, compassion and dedication rather than treating government work merely as a job.
The Seva Sankalp Campaign, jointly organised by the Thane district administration, the Zilla Parishad and various government departments, has achieved significant results by implementing 1,056 initiatives across the district. These activities have helped thousands of citizens access government schemes and services directly.
Addressing a large concluding programme at Gadkari Rangayatan in Thane, Shinde congratulated the administrative machinery for successfully implementing the campaign and praised the coordinated efforts of the departments involved.
The event was attended by MP Naresh Mhaske, MLA Ravindra Phatak, Badlapur Municipal Council president Ruchita Ghorpade, Konkan Divisional Commissioner Rubal Agarwal, Thane Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao, District Collector Dr Shrikrishna Panchal, Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Ranjit Yadav and Resident Deputy Collector Dr Sandeep Mane, along with senior officials from various government departments.
1,056 Initiatives Implemented Across the District
Shinde said the campaign covered a wide range of public welfare activities, including health check-up camps, training for ASHA workers, career guidance sessions, sports competitions under the Fit India initiative, and the distribution of school uniforms, chairs and water coolers. Sanitation drives, tree plantation programmes and the distribution of essential certificates were also undertaken.
Under the Birsa Munda and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Agricultural Self-Reliance schemes, officials visited beneficiaries and provided farmers with guidance on accessing assistance and making effective use of the schemes.
To reach people in remote rural and tribal areas, including Shahapur, Murbad and Bhiwandi, administrative teams conducted ghongadi baithaks by visiting settlements and interacting directly with residents.
Shinde said officials and employees had worked with courtesy and empathy to ensure that no eligible person was deprived of benefits because of a lack of information or technical difficulties involving documentation.
He said the campaign had drawn inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approach to public service. The commitment to serving the nation, he added, should not end with a single campaign but should continue as an ongoing process.
The government’s primary objective was to provide relief to ordinary citizens, farmers and hardworking people, Shinde said. He assured that the government stood firmly with rural residents and farmers facing drought-like conditions and called on urban residents and social organisations to extend assistance to affected communities.
‘Courtesy and Sensitivity Must Be Permanent’
Emphasising the importance of a service-oriented approach, Shinde urged government employees to work with a genuine commitment to public welfare.
Referring to the teachings of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj’s Gramgeeta, he said that any task could achieve meaningful success only when performed wholeheartedly and with a spirit of service.
He appealed to officials and employees in Thane to preserve this spirit even after the campaign concluded. Instead of observing a courtesy week for a few days and subsequently creating difficulties for citizens, he said, government staff must maintain courteous and sensitive behaviour throughout the year.
Such an approach, he added, would strengthen public trust and make administration more responsive to people's needs.
Focus on Farmers and Drought-Affected Communities
Describing Navratri as a festival dedicated to the worship of Shakti, Shinde said the Seva Sankalp Campaign had channelled that spirit towards public welfare. Drawing inspiration from the energy of Navratri and the nine forms of Goddess Durga, the administration was strengthening its commitment to ensure that every eligible beneficiary received the benefits of government schemes.
With Vijayadashami and Dussehra approaching, Shinde extended his festive greetings and called for collective efforts to bring relief and hope to farmers in drought-affected areas over the festival period and the following seven to eight months.
He stressed the need for the administration, citizens and social organisations to work together to support affected farming communities.
Benefits Distributed to Beneficiaries
The concluding programme also facilitated the distribution of benefits under various government schemes to beneficiaries from different parts of the district.
A notable initiative was the distribution of bicycles to girls studying in Classes VIII to X at tribal residential schools through the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) fund.
In his introductory address, District Collector Dr Shrikrishna Panchal outlined the various activities undertaken across Thane district as part of the Seva Sankalp Campaign.
The programme was compered by Sadhana Joshi, while Resident Deputy Collector Dr Sandeep Mane delivered the vote of thanks.
