Lokasamvad-2026 campaign to spread government schemes via Ganeshotsav mandals

Maharashtra's Directorate General of Information and Public Relations has launched a public awareness campaign called Lokasamvad-2026 across the state. The campaign will run from September 16 to 24, 2026, and aims to take information about various government schemes, initiatives and policy decisions directly to the public. It is being conducted through Ganeshotsav, since the festival is considered the occasion with the largest public participation in Maharashtra's civic life.

The state government has declared Ganeshotsav a "state festival". For this reason, Lokasamvad programmes are being held at venues where large numbers of citizens gather, that is, at the pandals of Ganesh mandals. The aim is not only to provide information about schemes but also to communicate directly with people and explain to those eligible for benefits how to avail them, which is a key objective of Lokasamvad-2026.

During these programmes, citizens will get a chance to speak directly with local and district-level officers of various government departments. The programmes are being organised at the leading and recognised Ganeshotsav mandals in every district. They will involve departments including agriculture, women and child development, education, social justice, cooperation, marketing, public health, skill development, and sports and youth welfare.

Farmers will be given information about the Shetkari Sanman Nidhi, crop insurance, farm ponds (shettale) and subsidies available on agricultural equipment. Information will also be provided on women's self-help groups, higher education for women, education for youth and students, skill development and scholarships. In the health sector, people will be informed about free check-ups, medicines and scholarship-linked facilities under the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, the Hindu-hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Aapla Dawakhana, and the Chief Minister's Medical Assistance Cell.

Youths and citizens will also get guidance on skill development training, the Chief Minister's Employment Training Programme, loan schemes for self-employment, and schemes run by institutions such as BARTI, SARTHI and Mahajyoti. In addition, people will be made aware of subjects such as MahaDBT, cyber security, the Right to Information, and Aaple Sarkar.

To run the campaign effectively, coordination will be maintained with all concerned systems including the agriculture, health, women and child development, education, sports and youth welfare, cooperation, marketing, skill development, social justice and police departments. At the programmes, local officers as well as senior district-level officers and experts will personally be present at the Ganeshotsav mandals to guide citizens.

Wherever possible, these programmes will also be live-streamed on Facebook or YouTube. The hashtags #Ganeshotsav2026 and #Lokasamvad2026 will be used on social media so that people who cannot be present at the programmes in person can also access information about the schemes. Ganesh mandals wishing to take part in the programme have been asked to contact their respective district information office. The Directorate General of Information and Public Relations has appealed to Ganesh mandals in Mumbai city and suburbs to contact its office at Mantralaya, Mumbai.