'Senior Citizen Policy' soon, hints Fadnavis

The Mahararshtra government has assured to work towards effective implementation of the 'Senior Citizen Policy' soon with an aim to provide better services, safety and security to the elderly.
"Various government departments will soon be asked to issue Government Resolutions (GR) so as to make life of the elderly people more comfortable and hassle-free," Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis here said.
Though the chief minister avoided making any major policy announcement due to the poll code of conduct (council polls) in force, he dropped enough hints about accepting suggestions for starting hospice in government hospitals for bed-ridden patients, senior citizen-friendly policies and dedicated cells to handle their health care, legal and social issues.

Speaking after inaugurating a new old-age home run by Sanjivan Socio-Medical Foundation, at Hingana near here yesterday, Fadnavis appreciated the project.
The old-age homes are a fallout of growing urbanisation and disintegration of joint families, he said.
Fadnavis also advised the aged people to live life happily and expressed hope that the society would find an effective solution to serve the elderly at home and take care of them.

The agrarian crisis is also seen to be one of the
factors that prompted the predominantly rural Maratha community to hit the streets across the State in the form of 'silent marches' seeking reservation in job and education besides a slew of other demands.

"Farmers' situation has not improved in two years. This year rains have been good but the Government cannot take credit for the same. Social equations have suffered and the Government has failed to stop the attempts to disturb social harmony. There have never been such caste tensions earlier," Raut said.
Sentiments of Marathas in organising silent morchas should have been considered. Instead, similar morchas of non-Maratha communities are being organised in different parts of the State, he said.
Fadnavis, however, is not seen to be facing any big challenge from within his party or ally, despite occasional hiccups, especially since he enjoys a good personal rapport with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.

"Uddhav Thackeray is fully supporting the Chief Minister," Raut said.
More recently, Fadnavis came under a grim attack from various quarters for mediating between Raj Thackeray and Karan Johar to facilitate the release of "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil", after MNS threatened to block it for featuring a Pakistani actor.
Fadnavis's camp, however, justified his act, saying his intentions in brokering a truce were genuine since he felt there should be no tensions during the festival season.
The main take of Congress-NCP against Fadnavis has been that he is pursuing "double standards" on corruption, as BJP, while in Opposition, had unleashed fierce attack on the previous administrations on that issue.

BJP had levelled allegations against Ministers in the Congress-NCP Government and even on basis of perception, Congress had sacked its Chief Minister and ministers, Congress leader Anant Gadgil told