QUESTION
Answer the following :
Explain the measures taken to develop social infrastructure in Maharashtra.
SOLUTION
Measures were undertaken to develop SOCIGI Infrastructure :
Education: Education is considered as one of the basic human needs. It forms the backbone of the socio-economic development of any country. Education is a significant aspect of human resource development (HRD). In the present scenario, India is getting the advantage of the highest demographic dividend due to the maximum percentage of the young population in the country. Education, therefore, becomes 'a priority' at the national as well as state level. The state of Maharashtra has implemented various educational schemes to achieve the goal of education. There are four levels of education in our country.
1) Primary
2) Secondary
3) Higher Secondary
4) Higher education
- Primary education: The state of Maharashtra has implemented the Right to Education (RTE) of children in the age group 6-14 years to provide free and compulsory education under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). The expenditure of the State government on primary education was 119,486 crores during 2016-17.
Primary (Std. I to VIII) Educational Institutions and EnrolmentYear Number of Schools Total Enrolment (in lakhs) No. of Teachers (in lakhs) Pupil-Teacher Ratio 2016-17 1,04,971 159.86 5.30 30.1 Economic Survey of Maharashtra 2017-18
- Secondary and Higher Secondary Education: Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) was launched in 2009 with the objective to improve the access as well as the quality of secondary education. During 2016-17, the State government’s expenditure on secondary and higher secondary education was Rs.16,089 crores.
Higher education: Apart from the universalization of primary education, the Government of Maharashtra is taking efforts to Expand opportunities in higher education also. Higher education helps in creating technical and skilled human resources which is an important input necessary for overall economic development. There are 22 state universities, out of which 4 universities are for agriculture, one university for health science courses, one university for veterinary science, one for technology and 15 other universities for general courses. In addition to these, there are 21 autonomous universities, one central university, 4 private universities and 5 institutes of national importance in the state. To meet the challenges of liberalization, privatization and globalization, the state enacted the new Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016. The key focus of this Act is to promote academic autonomy and excellence, skill-based education through the democratic process in higher education.
Maharashtra is also the first state in the country to receive a RUSA grant of Rs. 20 crores under Research and Innovation and Quality Improvement for setting up innovation and technology transfer hubs. Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) is a centrally sponsored scheme launched by the Government of India in 2013.
Health Services:
There were 1814 primary health centres and 360 community health centres in the state as on 31 st March 2017. Government of Maharashtra also emphasizes on programmes to strengthen the health system in rural and urban areas through the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM). These programmes include health determinants like sanitation and hygiene, nutrition and safe drinking water. The Government of Maharashtra.
