Maharashtra extends Jan Suvidha scheme funds to school and anganwadi buildings

The Maharashtra government has widened the scope of the special grant scheme for public amenities given to gram panchayats. The Rural Development Department issued a Government Resolution on September 29, 2026. Under it, several infrastructure works linked to Zilla Parishad schools and anganwadi centres can now be taken up under the scheme, through the District Annual Plan.

The spending limit for constructing a new building or classroom for a school or anganwadi centre has been set at Rs 20 lakh. Up to Rs 5 lakh has been provided for repair and painting of old buildings.

Rs 3 lakh will be available for building or repairing toilets in schools and anganwadi centres. Rs 5 lakh has been set aside for installing solar energy systems and electrical fittings in buildings. Up to Rs 5 lakh can also be spent on a compound wall.

With the safety of students and children in mind, a limit of up to Rs 3 lakh has been fixed for installing CCTV surveillance and fire safety systems.

The decision has left gram panchayats asking what will happen to funds for village roads, drains and other basic civic amenities. Roads, drains, drainage and internal lanes are also important to the daily work of panchayats. Discussion is likely to begin at the gram panchayat level on how the funds these works receive under the scheme will be planned, and on the effect of the change.

According to the Government Resolution, it is mandatory to confirm that the proposed works have not already been proposed through another scheme or department. Instructions have been given to ensure that money is not spent from two schemes on the same work and that works are not duplicated.

Villagers expect that, even as school and anganwadi infrastructure gets funds, the government will also separately address the questions of basic amenities such as village roads and drains.