Maha: Republic Day parade to be held at Shivaji Park

Maharashtra cabinet today decided that the Republic Day parade on January 26 in the state will be held at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai.
"The parade was organised at Marine Drive in 2014. But, due to security concerns, the official function was shifted back to Shivaji Park a year later," an official from the Chief Minister's Office said.
"This year too, like the previous two occasions, the function will be held at Shivaji Park in Dadar," he said.
The previous Congress-NCP government had broken the old practise of the Republic day celebrations at Shivaji Park and shifted them to Marine Drive on the lines of the function and Parade at Rajpath in New Delhi.

In another cabinet decision, the government will amend the Maharashtra Co-operative Institutions Act to regulate functioning of non-agriculture co-operative credit societies and protect the interests of depositors, said the official.
There are 15,182 credit societies in urban and rural areas.

"This will help regulate the disbursal of loan and its repayment so that credit societies do not turn into Non Performing Assets(NPAs). Similarly, the amendment will also act against incidents where the funds in credit societies are diverted to work other than loan disbursal," he added.
The Government has also decided to strengthen Drug Regulatory System and sanctioned Rs 136.96 crore for the purpose, said the official.

"As part of the effort, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) laboratory in Mumbai will be expanded. Similarly, divisional offices of FDA in Pune, Nashik and Nagpur will be modernised and new laboratories will be set up. Drug Inspectors and Data Entry operators will be hired on contract basis," he added.
The State Council of Vocation Training (SCVT) has been granted status of a society and the cabinet approved the memorandum of association and rules and regulations, said the official.
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Meanwhile, the Cabinet also decided to allot 20 acres of land to Goregaon Film City in suburban Goregaon for setting up National Centre of Excellence for Animation, Visual, Effect, Gaming and Comics.

Approval was given to implement the Babasaheb Ambedkar Krushi Swavlamban Yojna, under which Scheduled Caste farmers will be given various incentives.
The incentives include 100 per cent grant for digging or repairing wells, boring, drip irrigation, farm ponds or other facilities for agriculture and irrigation, the CMO official informed.
'Krushi Mahotsav' (agriculture fair) will be organised in each district to spread awareness about new technologies, market management and agri-allied businesses among farmers.
The Cabinet approved Rs 2,178 crore for Bodwad lift irrigation scheme in Jalgaon district. It will irrigate 53,449 hectares of land in two phases, the official added.
It also cleared the way for implementation of Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Swadhar Yojna under which SC students will be provided hostel, food and other educational facilities.

The scheme is applicable for students appearing for Class 11 and above and who have not got any hostel accommodation. The amount under it will be credited in students' bank account directly, he added.