The Maharashtra government has established the Maharashtra Public Relief Society to raise additional funds for financially needy patients requiring expensive medical treatment and for people affected by droughts and natural disasters, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.
The society will strengthen the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund by mobilising contributions from companies, institutions, voluntary organisations, philanthropic individuals and other members of the public. The funds will be used to provide financial assistance for costly surgeries, medicines, medical equipment and other treatment-related requirements.
The initiative is intended to support patients undergoing treatment for serious illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, kidney disorders and neurological conditions. Additional assistance may also be raised for people with rare diseases and those requiring prolonged medical care, the statement said.
The new arrangement will bring hospitals, voluntary organisations, companies and social institutions together to undertake medical assistance programmes based on patients’ needs. The government said this would widen the pool of resources available for eligible beneficiaries beyond existing assistance through the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
The decision followed directions issued by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during a review meeting of the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund cell. Officials were asked to examine ways of raising additional resources through corporate social responsibility contributions and wider public participation for patients requiring medical treatment.
The Maharashtra Public Relief Society will also support people and families affected by drought and other natural calamities. Its proposed activities include distributing essential supplies to economically weaker citizens, supporting organisations working with persons with disabilities, and organising community health camps.
The society is expected to undertake health-awareness programmes, discussions, workshops and other public-health initiatives alongside its relief activities. These functions broaden its proposed role from direct medical assistance to community-level support and public-health outreach.
Rameshwar Naik, head of the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and Charitable Hospital Assistance Cell, has appealed to companies, institutions and philanthropic individuals to contribute to the initiative. The government expects the new mechanism to expand assistance available during medical emergencies, droughts and other crises.
The official statement did not specify the society’s initial corpus, fundraising target, eligibility thresholds, application process or timeline for disbursing assistance. Further details on how contributions will be collected and how beneficiaries will be selected will determine how the new arrangement operates alongside the existing relief-fund system.
