Maharashtra to explain government schemes during Ganeshotsav via 'Loksamvad-2026'

Mumbai/Chandrapur: The Maharashtra government has launched a new initiative to take information about government schemes directly to people through Ganeshotsav. The Directorate General of Information and Public Relations will run a special campaign called 'Loksamvad-2026' across the state between September 16 and 24.

The government has declared Ganeshotsav a "state festival," and it is for this reason that wherever crowds gather at Ganesh mandals during the festival, government officials will reach out directly to guide people about schemes. The aim is not just to provide information but to have a direct dialogue with people and help those eligible for a scheme avail its benefit.

This 'Loksamvad' programme will be held at large, recognised Ganeshotsav mandals in every district, where people will be able to speak directly with local and district-level officials.

Nearly all government departments will take part in the campaign, 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 on the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, crop insurance, farm ponds and subsidies on farm equipment, while women will be told about savings groups and schemes related to higher education. Young people and students will also be given information about facilities under education, skill development and scholarship schemes.

On the health front, people will be told about free check-ups, medicines and scholarship-related facilities available under the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Apla Dawakhana, and the Chief Minister's Medical Assistance Cell. Young people will also be guided on skill development training, the Chief Minister's Employment Training Programme, self-employment loan schemes, and schemes of institutions such as BARTI, SARTHI and Mahajyoti. Alongside this, people will be made aware of subjects such as MahaDBT, cyber security, the Right to Information, and Aapले Sarkar.

To make the campaign a success, coordination is being worked out among several government mechanisms, including the agriculture, health, women and child development, education, sports and youth welfare, cooperation, marketing, skill development, social justice and police departments. Along with local officials, senior district-level officers and experts will also reach the mandals directly for the programmes.

Wherever possible, these programmes will also be live streamed on Facebook or YouTube so that the information can reach people who are unable to be present at the venue. The hashtags #Ganeshotsav2026 and #Loksamvad2026 will be used on social media for this. The Directorate General of Information and Public Relations has appealed that Ganesh mandals wishing to take part in the programme should contact their district information office, while mandals in Mumbai city and suburbs have been asked to contact the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations at Mantralaya, Mumbai.