Shinde announces 'Arogya Aaplya Daari' on Bal Thackeray's birth centenary

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday announced that a doortodoor health checkup campaign titled lsquoBalasaheb Thackeray Arogya Aaplya Daarirsquo will be launched by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMCThe announcement came in on Bal Thackerays birth centenaryAn official statement said that the programme will begin in Mumbai and will later be extended to other parts of MaharashtraShinde said that patients in municipal hospitals will be provided zeroprescription services and cashless treatment facilitiesThe Shiv Sena also announced a series of public welfare programmes across Maharashtra to mark the birth centenary of party founder and Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb ThackerayThe announcement was made Eknath Shinde at a press conference held at Balasaheb Bhavan in Mumbai on ThursdaySeveral senior leaders were present at the event including Ministers Pratap Sarnaik and Uday Samant Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson Dr Neelam Gorhe Maharashtra Pollution Control Board Chairman Siddhesh Kadam Shiv Sena General Secretary Rahul Shewale and party leader Sheetal MhatreFort cleanliness campaignAs part of environmental initiatives the state will launch the lsquoHindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Fort Cleanliness Campaignrsquo through the Pollution Control Board The campaign will start with 11 forts that are included in UNESCOrsquos World Heritage listRO water filters will be installed at forts and efforts will be made to make them plasticfreeOrganisations and volunteers participating in the campaign will receive an honorarium of Rs 1 lakhFinancial allocationsShinde also announced several financial allocations including Rs 100 crore each for womenrsquos selfhelp group empowerment Marathi language promotion and road safety campaigns A special scheme for senior citizens the ST pilgrimage travel scheme will also be implemented Additionally 10000 girl students will be trained in selfdefence and the School Education Department will organise essay writing speech painting and cartoon competitionsHe said that efforts are underway to fulfil Balasaheb Thackerayrsquos dream of a slumfree Mumbai through agencies such as MHADA CIDCO and MMRDA The government aims to provide permanent housing to 40 lakh Mumbai residentsUrban civic welfare campaignThe lsquoHindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Urban Civic Welfare Campaignrsquo will be implemented across 29 municipal corporations and 394 municipal councils in the state Municipal councils will receive Rs 1 crore each while municipal corporations will receive Rs 3 crore each A total budget of Rs 539 crore has been allocated for this initiativeUnder this campaign the top three municipal and municipal council schools will be honoured for excellence Prize money will range from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh depending on the category Eighteen schools from six administrative divisions will be selected The aim of the programme is to improve school quality infrastructure and healthy competitionBalasaheb gave voice to Hindutva and Marathi identity ShindeSpeaking on Balasaheb Thackerayrsquos legacy Shinde said that he gave a strong voice to Hindutva and Marathi identity across the country He added that Shiv Sena continues to work based on Balasahebrsquos ideology and has grown into a strong grassrootsbased party across Maharashtra