Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training and Human Development Institute (SARTHI) in Pune on Friday, 26 June 2026, conducting a comprehensive review of the welfare schemes and training programmes run by the institution. He also inspected the institute's main building, auditorium, and multimedia hall during the visit.

The Chief Minister's Office of Maharashtra announced the visit via an official post, noting that Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Cabinet Minister Chandrakant Patil, Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Context

SARTHI — formally the Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Sanshodhan, Prashikshan va Manav Vikas Sanstha — is a state-run autonomous institute headquartered in Pune. It was established to provide competitive examination coaching, skill development, and human development programmes primarily for students from backward class communities. The institute draws its name and institutional ethos from Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, the Kolhapur ruler (1884–1922) celebrated for pioneering social reforms and expanding educational access for marginalised communities.

Policy Backdrop

SARTHI was set up during the earlier Fadnavis administration (2014–2019) as part of Maharashtra's broader effort to create dedicated welfare infrastructure for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and Other Backward Class students outside the conventional university system. The institute runs targeted coaching batches for civil services and other competitive examinations, positioning it as a key instrument of the state's social equity agenda.

Maharashtra governments across regimes have periodically established autonomous institutes for human development and exam preparation among reserved-category communities. Chief Ministerial visits to review physical infrastructure and scheme implementation are a recurring feature of this administrative approach, often preceding budget allocations or policy announcements.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of SARTHI's programmes are students from backward classes aspiring to crack civil services, state-level competitive exams, and skill-based employment pathways. The institute's infrastructure — including its multimedia hall and auditorium — directly supports the scale and quality of coaching it can deliver.

The presence of Minister Chandrakant Patil, who holds the higher and technical education portfolio, alongside Deputy CM Sunetra Ajit Pawar and Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, signals a multi-level administrative focus on the institution's functioning and outreach.

What's Next

Observers will watch for follow-up announcements on new training batches, infrastructure upgrades, or enhanced budget allocations for SARTHI in upcoming cabinet meetings or the next state budget cycle. The institute's performance and scheme outcomes could also feature in questions during the monsoon or winter assembly session. The visit underscores the Fadnavis government's intent to keep welfare institution-building at the centre of its administrative calendar.