Thane district plans Rs 400 crore upgrade of schools and primary health centres

The Thane district administration has prepared a large development plan to improve the quality of schools, primary health centres and civic amenities in the district. The plan has been drawn up on the directions of MP and DISHA committee chairperson Dr Shrikant Eknath Shinde.

The plan sets aside about Rs 300 crore for the physical and educational facilities of schools in Zilla Parishad, municipal corporation and municipal council areas. About Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for upgrading primary health centres.

A review meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA committee) was held recently at the Thane Collector's office. It discussed the planning of various works, availability of funds and implementation. The comprehensive plan has been prepared on the directions given by Dr Shinde at the meeting.

Schools are to get digital learning facilities, internet connectivity, modern and well-equipped classrooms, model kitchens, separate toilets for boys and girls, and clean drinking water for students. Under the Saksham Shala Abhiyan, schools will be rebuilt where needed and developed as smart schools.

School campuses will also get solar power projects, rainwater harvesting, good rest rooms for students and walls decorated with educational and inspirational paintings. Dr Shrikant Shinde instructed that the focus be on building model kitchens so that the PM Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) scheme is implemented effectively and students receive quality meals.

To keep improving academic quality in schools, the cooperation of experienced teachers from the cities, and of teachers from the government and private sectors, will be taken. The emphasis will also be on keeping up-to-date information on every school, evaluating schools every year and making improvements accordingly. The aim is to raise funds through the Zilla Parishad, municipal corporations and municipal councils and complete the modernisation works as scheduled.

In the cities, main roads will be beautified, attractive lighting installed, and lakes and gardens spruced up. Special attention will be paid to building modern public toilets and to their regular cleaning and maintenance. Dr Shinde instructed that exercise facilities, cycle tracks, play areas for children, modern gymnasiums, and libraries and study rooms for students be planned in gardens and public spaces.

Good footpaths, adequate lighting and necessary infrastructure will be built for pedestrian safety. The plan also includes giving women skills training and opportunities for employment and self-employment, and building women's bhavans for their activities. Well-equipped halls will be built where needed for social and cultural events. In Dalit settlements and slum areas, the emphasis will be on all-round development by providing basic facilities such as roads, water supply, drains, street lights and sanitation.

The agencies concerned were directed to give priority to citizens' daily needs, safety, cleanliness and effective use of public facilities while planning all these works. Dr Shrikant Shinde said he would follow up with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for the funds and administrative support needed to implement the plan effectively. The meeting also asked all departments concerned to work in coordination and complete the planned works.

In health, the plan is to develop primary health centres into capable centres that offer necessary health check-ups, treatment and basic medical facilities under one roof, rather than being limited to primary examination. Dr Shrikant Shinde instructed the department concerned to improve infrastructure, cleanliness, patient amenities and the quality of medical services for this.