CM Fadnavis pledges education and jobs for divyang in Maharashtra
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A clear commitment from the top: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has declared that the Maharashtra state government and municipal corporations are fully dedicated to providing education and employment to persons with disabilities — a pledge that signals an active push to translate policy into on-ground delivery.
The Chief Minister's Office posted the statement on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, quoting Fadnavis directly: 'दिव्यांगों को देंगे शिक्षा और रोजगार, राज्य सरकार और महानगर पालिका पूरी तरह कटिबद्ध' — 'We will provide education and employment to the divyang; the state government and municipal corporations are fully committed.' The post was tagged with #JaipurFoot, pointing to the involvement of the renowned prosthetics NGO in the broader outreach effort.
Jaipur Foot's role in Maharashtra's disability outreach
Jaipur Foot, the Jaipur-based NGO globally recognised for manufacturing and distributing low-cost prosthetic limbs, has a long track record of partnering with state governments for rehabilitation camps. Its mention alongside Fadnavis's commitment suggests an on-ground event or programme — likely a prosthetic fitment camp or a welfare drive organised in coordination with one or more of Maharashtra's municipal corporations.
Such partnerships typically bring together state health departments, urban local bodies, and civil society organisations to reach divyang citizens who might otherwise lack access to rehabilitation services. The dual emphasis on education and employment — rather than only medical assistance — marks an intent to address the full lifecycle of inclusion.
The legal spine: Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
The statutory backbone for this commitment is the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which expanded the recognised categories of disability and mandated reservations in government education institutions and public-sector jobs. Maharashtra, as one of India's largest states by population and economic output, carries significant weight in how this legislation translates into actual outcomes for divyang citizens.
State governments and municipal corporations are key implementation nodes under the Act — which is precisely why Fadnavis's framing of both tiers of government as 'fully committed' carries policy weight beyond a routine statement.
Municipal bodies as the last mile
Bringing municipal corporations explicitly into the commitment is notable. Urban local bodies control school infrastructure, skill-training centres, and local employment exchanges — the last-mile machinery that determines whether state-level pledges reach individual beneficiaries. Maharashtra's major municipal corporations govern some of the country's largest urban populations, making their active participation essential to any meaningful scale-up for the divyang community.
If the Jaipur Foot association signals an upcoming camp or partnership drive, watch for announcements from individual municipal corporations on dates, locations, and the scope of services — prosthetics, skill training, or job placement — being rolled out.