Mumbai, Jan 17 (Agency) Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday instructed the senior officials of various departments to ensure Maharashtra remains at the forefront of the sustainable development goals of the Union Government.Pawar said financial discipline should be observed while implementing public interest schemes through administrative departments. To that end, there was a need to implement measures such as streamlining schemes, mechanisms, and autonomous bodies, reducing unproductive subsidies, and increasing productive capital expenditure.Pawar was chairing a review meeting at his office in the Mantralya (secretariat) regarding the annual programme 2024–25 of 16 departments.While giving guidance on the annual plans of the departments, he said in a public welfare state like Maharashtra, citizens benefit if new schemes are created in public interest.
However, most of the time, when new plans are taken up, the old plans that are no longer needed are continued. No financial provision is made for these schemes year after year. After reviewing and analysing such schemes, proposals should be prepared, considering which schemes should be continued and which should be discontinued, said the Dy CM.He also directed that proposals regarding the cancellation of outdated schemes of provision above Rs 50 crores be brought before the Cabinet.Many schemes of the state government are implemented with the cooperation of the central government. Senior officials should try to get the central government’s share of these schemes on time, added Pawar.