MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government will establish a dedicated ‘war room’ to integrate Central and state health schemes and prevent individuals from receiving overlapping benefits, officials said.
The committee overseeing the initiative will be chaired by Praveen Pardeshi, Chief Executive Officer of the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA) and former IAS officer. It will include 12 senior officials representing departments such as Public Health, Medical Education, Social Justice, Women and Child Welfare, Law and Judiciary, Labour, Tribal Development, Minority Development, and Divyang Welfare, along with the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund head and an assistant director.
“Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the creation of this ‘war room’ to streamline and integrate health welfare schemes. Several beneficiaries have been found availing benefits under both Central and state programmes, which is not permitted,” a health department official said.
A toll-free helpline — 1800-123-2211 — will be launched to assist citizens with health-related services.
The state already operates similar ‘war rooms’ to monitor infrastructure, industrial, and social projects. Pardeshi, who also serves as Chief Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister, co-chairs the governing committee for Maharashtra’s data policy
