Mumbai, April 20 (NationPress) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has instructed all departments to develop a robust action plan within the designated timeline, emphasizing the need to mitigate regional inequalities and promote equitable growth across all districts.

During a meeting of the ‘Viksit Maharashtra 2047’ Vision Management Regulatory Board, he assessed the progress of different departments and urged them to prioritize effective execution in the upcoming phase.

He highlighted the necessity to concentrate on underperforming districts, noting that while the state's per capita income exceeds the national average, it remains below that in 11 districts. He stressed the importance of treating these areas as “Engines of Growth” to integrate them into the mainstream.

In line with the Central Government's approach, the state has identified 10 Aspirational Districts and 174 Aspirational Tehsils to facilitate development at a granular level.

To restore Maharashtra's prominent standing in the Sustainable Development Goals indices (where it ranked fourth in 2018-19), the Chief Minister mandated the creation of department-specific action plans. He instructed the Planning Department to swiftly release guidelines for the initial phase, while the Finance Department is required to wrap up the financial review of projects by April 30.

He emphasized the importance of ‘Ease of Doing Business’, directing departments to make strategic choices to enhance private investment, exports, and consumer spending. He noted that to effectively tap into alternative funding sources, the state should utilize Public-Private Partnerships and land value capture strategies. It is vital, he asserted, to submit utilization certificates to the Central Government promptly to secure maximum funding.

The official release stated that all new government initiatives must now detail how they align with the vision of ‘Developed Maharashtra’. A systematic evaluation framework will be established to monitor the progress of all projects. The Revenue Department is expected to streamline pending hearings through reforms.

Minister of Other Backward Classes and Bahujan Welfare Atul Save requested the Finance Department to establish specific criteria to ensure timely allocation of funds.

Minister of Fisheries Nitesh Rane advocated for Foreign Direct Investment focusing on future growth sectors and urged ongoing discussions with the Centre regarding fort maintenance.

Minister of State for Finance Ashish Jaiswal suggested that funds from the District Development Committee be distributed based on the population of districts and the particular needs of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The meeting wrapped up with presentations from various departmental secretaries outlining their development strategies for the next four years.