07 May,2014 07:12 AM IST | | Ravikiran Deshmukh
At a meeting yesterday, industrialist told state govt officials that he wanted a pilot public interest project to be launched at the earliest to check its acceptability
"We want to see Maharashtra as a leading state in India with other states following it," renowned industrialist Ratan Tata told a team of high-ranking state government officials during a meeting on Tuesday.
After his meeting with state officials, Ratan Tata met CM Prithviraj Chavan to discuss aspects of the cooperation between the Tata group and the state government
As reported by mid-day yesterday (âTata trusts to pump Rs 50,000 cr into state'), the state government and the Tatas have decided to form a core group to implement a strategic alliance in which the nation's leading industrial house will extend cooperation and funding to the state in key sectors. The core group will comprise seven senior officials of the state and four officials of Tata group.
mid-day report on May 6
During the meeting, Tata suggested to a group of senior state government officials, led by Chief Secretary J S Saharia, that a pilot public interest project be launched at the earliest to check its acceptability. He said that it should be on an experimental basis, or rather a showcase project, to help them understand the pros and cons.
Full support
"The Tata group is keen to work with the government for the state's development," said Ratan Tata, reiterating his desire to extend fullest support.
Department secretaries of education, higher education, civil aviation, tourism and industry and the commissioner of employment and self-employment made presentations during the meeting, stressing on their expectations from the corporate sector.
Ratan Tata also met Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan later to discuss the Tata group's desire to extend funding for the projects as part of corporate social responsibility.
