Maharashtra to set up CM relief fund medical aid cells in drought-hit talukas

The Maharashtra government has decided to take the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF) help desk down to the taluka level, so that needy patients in drought-affected areas get timely medical treatment and financial assistance. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has approved the decision. Separate medical officers will also be appointed in these cells to coordinate health services.

The General Administration Department issued a Government Resolution (GR) on Friday. It approves starting the cells in all talukas where drought was declared under Trigger-1 in the 2026 kharif season.

The aim is to bring the Chief Minister's Relief Fund closer to people in drought-hit areas, find needy patients and give them medical help without delay. Health coordination committees will also be set up at the district and taluka levels.

The help desks will operate from the offices of the respective panchayat samitis. The District Collector will appoint a separate medical officer as head of each cell, assisted by one clerk and one typist. Block development officers are to provide the necessary infrastructure and space on priority.

Before patients approach the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for financial aid, the cells will help them avail of the government's existing health schemes. Eligible patients will first be treated under Ayushman Bharat, the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana, Labour Department schemes and treatment facilities at charitable hospitals.

Applications from patients who do not fit these schemes will be sent through affiliated hospitals for approval via an online system. The cell will guide patients through the application process.

Through sub-district and rural hospitals, primary health centres, sub-centres and accredited social health activists (ASHAs), the cell heads will identify needy patients. They will be responsible for ensuring that no patient is denied treatment.

At the taluka level, the local MLA will chair the committee and the sub-divisional officer (revenue) will be co-chair. The tehsildar, block 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 help desk will serve as member secretary.

At the district level, the guardian minister will chair the committee and the District Collector will be co-chair. The District Health Officer will be member secretary. Two social workers from the medical field will be appointed as non-official members.

The government will take the cooperation of health experts linked to the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, the Indian Medical Association, the Maharashtra Medical Council, local medical associations and private hospitals. Health camps will be held in drought-hit areas to provide patients with medicines and medical treatment.

Both the district and taluka committees must hold at least two meetings a month. Remote areas, densely populated areas and places with inadequate health facilities will be identified and given priority for medical help. The committees will also review illnesses related to drinking water and heat, and plan health camps, mobile medical teams and the services of specialist doctors. Special attention will be paid to women, children, senior citizens and people with diabetes and high blood pressure.

The taluka-level cells will submit daily reports on their work and on medical camps to the district cell. The district cells will compile the reports of all talukas and send them to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund cell at Mantralaya.

Rameshwar Naik, head of the Chief Minister's Relief Fund and Charitable Hospital Help Desk, explained the purpose of the decision. He said the initiative is meant to make the relief fund's machinery more easily accessible to people. He also said the expansion will help identify needy patients in drought-hit areas in time and secure proper medical treatment and financial aid for them. Naik said there would be better coordination between existing health schemes and help from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund where needed.

Naik said the main objective is that no needy patient should be denied treatment because of lack of money.