CM Relief Fund cells to open in drought-hit talukas to help patients get treatment

Given the drought conditions in the state, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has decided to set up Chief Minister's Relief Fund cells at the taluka level as well. A separate medical officer will be appointed to each cell. The government says this will help health services reach people in drought-hit talukas better.

The General Administration Department issued a government order on the matter on November 6, 2026. Health coordination committees will also be formed at the district and taluka levels. The taluka cell will be set up only in those talukas where drought has been declared under Trigger-1 in the Kharif season of 2026.

The cell will start functioning at the panchayat samiti office of the taluka concerned. The district collector will appoint an independent medical officer as head of the cell. If clerks and typists are available to assist the officer, the group development officer will provide the necessary facilities on priority.

Patients will first be given treatment under Ayushman Bharat, the Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana, the Labour Department's scheme and charitable hospitals, according to their eligibility. Applications of patients who are not eligible for these schemes will be sent through the hospital concerned for approval on the online system. The cell will guide them in this.

The head of the cell will have to identify patients in need through sub-district and rural hospitals, primary health centres, sub-centres and ASHA workers. The cell will also be responsible for ensuring that no patient is denied treatment.

The local MLA will chair the taluka-level committees, with the sub-divisional officer (revenue) as co-chair. The tahsildar, group development officer, taluka health officer, medical superintendent, and representatives of the Indian Medical Association and the Chemists and Druggists Association will be members. The head of the cell will serve as member secretary.

The district-level committee will be chaired by the guardian minister, with the district collector as co-chair. The district health officer will be member secretary. Two social workers from the medical field will serve on the committee as non-official members.

Health experts from the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, the Indian Medical Association, the Maharashtra Medical Council, local medical associations and private hospitals will be enlisted. Health camps will be held in drought-hit areas and medicines will be given to patients.

Both committees will have to meet at least twice a month. Remote, densely populated areas and those lacking health facilities will be identified and action taken there on priority. The committees will review drinking water and heat-related illnesses, and plan health camps, mobile medical teams and the services of specialist doctors. Special attention will be paid to women, children, senior citizens and patients with diabetes and hypertension.

The taluka cell will submit its daily work and camp reports to the district cell. The district cell will compile the reports of all talukas and submit them to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund cell at Mantralaya.

The decision was taken in line with Chief Minister Fadnavis's vision of taking the Chief Minister's Relief Fund system to more people. Rameshwar Naik, head of the Chief Minister's Relief Fund and Charitable Hospital Assistance Cell, said the main aim of the initiative is that no needy patient should be denied treatment because of lack of money.