Deputy Chief Minister and Finance & Planning Minister Ajit Pawar Announces Key Initiative
Mumbai : According to the 2011 Census, the population of persons with disabilities (PwDs) in Maharashtra accounts for 2.63% of the state’s total population. Considering this significant demographic, the state government has decided to reserve up to 1% of the District Annual Plan (General) funds every year from 2025-26 onwards for the welfare and empowerment of persons with disabilities, announced Deputy Chief Minister and Finance & Planning Minister Ajit Pawar.
Under the District Annual Plan (General), 5% of the total funds are allocated for innovative schemes, sustainable development goals, and monitoring & data entry, while the remaining 95% is designated for regular schemes. Of this, 19% is already reserved for various administrative departments’ regular schemes. However, in a significant decision taken during the State-Level District Annual Plan (General) 2025-26 Meeting on February 5, 2025, Ajit Pawar directed that up to 1% of the regular scheme funds be exclusively reserved for initiatives benefiting persons with disabilities. The Planning Department has now issued an official government resolution (GR) to implement this directive.
To ensure proper utilization of this reserved 1% fund, the Department of Social Justice & Disability Welfare will issue clear guidelines on how the funds should be allocated. These guidelines will be finalized with the approval of the Finance and Planning Departments, Ajit Pawar added.
