A review meeting of the Social Justice Department was held on Tuesday at the Sahyadri Guest House under the chairmanship of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister (CM) Eknath Shinde. The meeting was attended by key officials, including Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat, Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse, Chairman of the Maharashtra State Scheduled Castes and Tribes Commission and former lawmaker Anandrao Adsul, and other prominent figures such as Additional Chief Secretary Aseem Gupta, Principal Secretary Naveen Sona, and Social Justice Department Principal Secretary Harshdeep Kamble.
The meeting focused on the effective implementation of the department’s schemes and improving the conditions of hostels and schools under the Social Justice Department. Deputy CM Shinde instructed senior officials, including the Social Justice Minister and Secretary, to conduct surprise visits to ensure the quality of services provided to students, particularly in hostels and schools. He stressed the need for regular checks on cleanliness, food quality, sanitation, and overall living conditions. To ensure proper oversight, a quality control team will be formed for this purpose.
One of the key directives issued by Shinde was ensuring that the benefits of all special assistance schemes are transferred directly to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts via the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. He emphasised that no funds should be withheld, and the full amount of benefits under schemes such as the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana and Shravan Bal Pension Yojana must be directly deposited into beneficiaries` accounts.
Shinde also instructed that ministers, secretaries, and officials should personally taste the food served to students in hostels, underlining that no compromise should be made when it comes to the health and well-being of the students. He highlighted that effective implementation of schemes is crucial to ensure the benefits reach the weaker sections of society, particularly those from grassroots-level communities.
Further, Shinde directed the Social Justice Department to make special efforts to improve facilities for students in hostels, ensuring a conducive environment for better learning. Additionally, an app will be developed to allow individuals to lodge complaints about the facilities, including the quality of materials and construction at hostels and schools.
The meeting also included discussions on the implementation of various schemes by both the Central and State Governments, the introduction of new initiatives, and the removal of barriers that may hinder the effective execution of existing schemes.
In a separate review meeting on Tuesday, Deputy CM Shinde chaired a session on the School Education Department`s initiatives to improve education quality in the state. He directed officials to reduce student dropout rates by focusing on future policies and leveraging digital technology in education. Shinde also emphasised the importance of health check-ups for students and directed the officials to collaborate with the health department.
A key initiative discussed was the `Smart School` model implemented in Sangli and Satara districts. Shinde directed the department to evaluate the model and extend its implementation across the state to improve the quality of education. Education Minister Suresh Kumar outlined plans to build model schools at the taluka level, equipped with digital facilities and other necessary resources such as libraries, labs, and sports equipment.
Shinde also launched the School Quality Assessment and Assurance Framework, aimed at monitoring and improving the quality of education in schools across Maharashtra.
Source link
