Inspired by AAP, Maha Govt to Launch Mohalla Clinics and Education Overhaul

Taking inspiration from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi, Maha Vikas Aghadi has resolved to embark on an overhaul of the state’s education infrastructure. The Mohalla Clinic initiative of the Delhi government too will be replicated in Maharashtra. This has come as a boost for the AAP, as the party gears up for the Assembly elections due on February 8.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar chaired a meeting with officials from the Education Department on Monday. In the meeting, he asked the officers to come up with innovative ideas to make the government schools attractive as well as stronger in comparison with the private schools. He reportedly asked them to understand the model that is being used in Delhi government schools. “Today, Delhi’s education model is known as the best model in the country. This is cost effective as well. We need to learn from that and replicate it in Maharashtra. Our all schools run by Zilla Parishad or Municipalities must be upgraded along this line,” said Ajit Pawar reportedly during the meeting.

First-time MLA Rohit Pawar had visited Delhi schools a few months back and had met Delhi deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. After the meeting, he had decided to launch a similar initiative in Maharashtra. “This is the spirit of Maharashtra. We are open to adopting the best practices from across the country to improve quality and standard of education of our children. I had the privilege to visit Delhi schools, and I was indeed impressed with their work,” he had tweeted after the announcement.

The government also plans to launch a chain of primary healthcare centres based on AAP government’s Mohalla Clinics. “Our team of senior officers will go and visit the Mohalla Clinics. This is one of the most affordable and people-centric health policy. Our officers will understand it and we will try to implement it in the state after altering it as per our requirements,” said Rajesh Tope, health minister of Maharashtra.

Earlier, Maharashtra government lead by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had announced a similar decision in February 2019 as per which, 60 clinics called ‘Aapala Dawakhana’ (Our Clinic) were to be launched in the slum areas with a population above 5,000. But the incumbent government has decided to implement this scheme in rural and urban localities as well.

Policy analysts are seeing these decisions as an attempt to win political support from the common people. “This government is full of contradictions. They have joined hands to keep BJP out of power. So, they will have to work on ideas which will ultimately win the hearts of the masses. That will further cement the alliance and push BJP to the corner. AAP's pro-people policies are therefore being picked up in state and are being announced systematically in first few weeks of the government,” said senior policy analyst and columnist Ajit Joshi.

Also read: Under Modi, Cost of Education Has Exploded