No shortage of funds for Gharkul Scheme: Maha Minister

Mumbai, June 24 (SocialNews.XYZ) Maharashtra Rural Development Minister Jaykumar Gore on Wednesday assured the Legislative Assembly that there is no shortage of funds for the Gharkul (Housing) Scheme and that disbursement of instalments to beneficiaries will not be stopped under any circumstances.

He announced that the government has set a target to build 15 lakh houses in the state within the next year.

Responding to a question raised by member Sameer Kunawar and supplementary queries from Nilesh Rane, Rahul Patil, Sudhir Mungantiwar and Nana Patole, Minister Gore said that last year the state had set a target of over 29 lakh houses.

Of these, 28.17 lakh beneficiaries were identified, and 27,85,724 houses were sanctioned. So far, the first instalment has been distributed to over 26 lakh houses, the second to over 17 lakh houses, and the third to over 11 lakh houses.

A total of 6,05,596 houses have been completed to date, making Maharashtra the first state in the country to complete six lakh houses in a single year.

Providing details of funding, Gore said Rs 5,290 crore was received in 2025–26, while Rs 13,947 crore has been received in 2026–27.

He admitted there had been delays in releasing instalments due to technical glitches in the Central Government’s ‘SPARSH’ online fund distribution system, but clarified that the process is now running smoothly and no beneficiary’s money will be withheld.

He added that if land is not available, up to Rs 1 lakh per beneficiary is being provided for purchasing land.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik informed the Assembly that Regional Transport Office (RTO) employees have called off their indefinite strike after the government accepted various demands prioritising employee welfare.

He said the transport department's operations will resume as normal.

Sarnaik explained that employee unions had launched the strike on June 16, 2026, pressing for demands that threatened to disrupt daily operations for lakhs of citizens. The government engaged in discussions to understand employees' expectations and difficulties, leading to several decisions.

Orders for temporary promotions to the post of Office Superintendent will be renewed for three months, with approval from the General Administration Department (GAD) to extend them for up to 11 months.

A proposal for 23 promotions to Senior Administrative Officer and Administrative Officer posts has been sent to the GAD. Instructions have been issued to expedite the implementation of service entry rules for Office Superintendent and Class-3 cadres.

The government is also supportive of changing the designations of Clerks, Typists, and Senior Clerks to ‘Transport Assistant’ and ‘Senior Transport Coordinator Assistant’, respectively. The process of granting final approval to service entry rules for Assistant Police Motor Vehicle Prosecutor posts is in its final stages.

The Transport Commissioner has been directed to take immediate decisions regarding benefits under the Assured Career Progression Scheme for Senior Clerks and Office Superintendents.

Sarnaik said a necessary decision regarding demands linked to the Transfer Act 2005 will also be made, keeping in view administrative requirements and existing rules.

“The government is committed to respecting the employees, addressing their problems, and securing their future. The aim is to make the transport department more capable, efficient and people-oriented through dialogue, sensitivity and coordination. Following these positive decisions, the employee unions have withdrawn their indefinite strike, resolving the inconvenience caused to citizens,” he added.

Source: IANS