Mah to set up state Human Development Mission

Mumbai, May 1 (UNI) The Maharashtra Government has decided to set up a State Human Development Mission to ensure equitable progress of all districts in terms of education and health, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said today on the occasion of the state's 46th Foundation Day.

He said transformation of rural and urban areas along with efforts to curb farmers' suicides, enhance power generation in the state is the thrust area of the Congress- led Democratic Front (DF) government.

Mr Deshmukh said the state had seen testing times last year. Be it floods in Mumbai and 18 districts, drought, unseasonal rains or bird flu.

The crisis was overcome because of the positive attitude of Maharastrian people, the Chief Minister noted.

The Rajmata Jijau Mother-Child Health Nutrition Mission set up last year was doing well. It has been decided to give anti-germ vaccinations and oral medicines to children on May 1 and November 14 every year. Similarly, within a forthnight of these dates, children would be given doses of A vitamin to increase the resistance power of the children.

Referring to Mumbai, he said the Metro Rail project has received the Centre's sanction and work on the project will begin soon. The project will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he added.

Marine Drive beautification project has just begun and infrastructure projects under Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Project (MUIP) are underway.

The Mithi river revival project is under progress and the first phase will end by May 31.

He said Pune, Nagpur, Nashik and Nanded have been included along with Mumbai in the National Urban Renewal Mission.

Mr Deshmukh said MIDC has received proposals of setting up SEZs in different parts of the state. Pune is being developed as bio-technology hub and Mumbai as retailing and entertainment hub because of which new opportunities of economic progress are in the offing.

He said with the Cargo Hub coming up in Nagpur, the second Capital of Maharashtra, is set to become the Centre of goods transport.

Georgia Technical Institute has recently expressed its readiness to set up its International Campui in the state.

Mr Deshmukh also said his government had taken several initiatives to mitigate the hardships of farmers by announcing several incentives and packages.

UNI MR KD VJ HT1307