Pune, June 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday stated that the state government has adopted a policy to provide opportunities based on education, skill development, competitive examination training, entrepreneurship, and modern technology for the social, educational, and economic upliftment of the Maratha community.
He praised the remarkable work done through the SARATHI institute (Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training and Human Development Institute) towards achieving this goal.
He was speaking at a felicitation ceremony organised by SARATHI Pune to honour students who cleared the UPSC, MPSC, and various banking exams, along with their parents.
Fadnavis highlighted that, under SARATHI's guidance, over 140 candidates have succeeded in the UPSC, 1,124 in the MPSC, and more than 500 in the banking sector.
Additionally, over 13,000 youth have become employable through skill development training, and more than 2 lakh students have benefited from various programmes.
To bring the economically and educationally backward sections of the Maratha community into the mainstream, the government implemented a policy focused on three pillars: Education, Training, and Employment, said the CM.
"A 50 per cent tuition fee waiver is being provided to Maratha community students pursuing professional higher education courses.
To support aspiring students studying in major cities, the Bhausaheb Panjabrao Deshmukh Nirvah Bhatta Yojna (subsistence allowance) was launched, providing financial assistance up to Rs 60,000 along with hostel facilities," he said.
He further added that the Annasaheb Patil Financial Development Corporation was accelerated by the introduction of interest subsidies.
This initiative has created over 1.75 lakh entrepreneurs with loans exceeding Rs 7,500 crore distributed.
The government allocates Rs 1,500 crore annually for this purpose.
The Chief Minister urged students to pivot towards modern skills such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), computer technology, language labs, tool labs, and drone technology.
"In agriculture, the state government has launched the AI-based 'Mahavistar' app, currently utilised by around 50 lakh farmers. Drone technology will bring a massive shift in farming, and SARATHI has already started drone pilot training for the youth," he added.
He also announced that SARATHI's regional centres, student hostels, and training facilities are being set up in Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Amravati, Nagpur, Latur, and Kolhapur, which will be completed within the next year.
Furthermore, a new initiative called 'Nipun Setu' will be launched to support students who qualified in competitive exams by merit but missed out on government jobs due to limited seats.
The state government will bear their training expenses and help place them in private sector opportunities.
There are also plans to co-locate the offices of SARATHI and the Annasaheb Patil Financial Corporation to provide all services under one roof, the CM said.
The Chief Minister assured that MPSC exams would be conducted in a timely, transparent, and merit-based manner, and that any decision regarding online exam formats would be made only after consulting with and building trust among students.
Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar described SARATHI as not just a government scheme implementation body, but also a powerful movement for social transformation, educational progress, and youth empowerment.
She noted that the institute effectively realises the vision of Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj regarding equality, brotherhood, and social justice.
She lauded the sacrifices of parents, the guidance of teachers, and the unwavering support of SARATHI behind the students' success.
She also highlighted the significant contributions of the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in building and strengthening the institution, mentioning a Rs 1,360 crore project approved during his tenure for a state-of-the-art administrative headquarters, eight regional offices, and well-equipped hostels accommodating 500 boys and 500 girls each.
DCM Pawar assured that the state government stands firmly behind the dreams of the youth and will ensure no shortage of funds for SARATHI's welfare schemes.
Addressing the successful candidates, she advised them to keep the common citizen at the centre of their service while working in administration.
Source: IANS
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