Maharashtra govt committed to develop Gadchiroli district: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde

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Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday said that his government is committed to removing the backward tag from Gadchiroli district through development measures.

Addressing a gathering of women at the launch of the state government's women empowerment campaign, chief minister Shinde said this drive would be soon launched for Maharashtra by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On the occasion, he listed the government's efforts to empower women and other sections through welfare measures, newswire PTI reported.

"The government is working to bring Gadchiroli into the mainstream of society by removing its backward tag through development," the chief minister added.

He said the 'Shasan Aaplya Daari' (government at your doorsteps) campaign has helped people across the state, including Gadchiroli, a border district parts of which are affected by Left Wing Extremism.

Shinde also said the process to start an airport in Gadchiroli is being fast-tracked. "The new airport will bring more industries to this region".

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Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the foundation of a developed Bharat was laid by PM Modi who is keen to have women as the main stakeholders in realising this dream.

"The prime minister is working for women's empowerment and to bring them to the mainstream in the society. The women empowerment campaign by the chief minister won't stop until all women get employment," he said.

Fadnavis also said the state government has given a Rs 60,000 crore loan to women self-help groups in Maharashtra.

Underlining that Gadchiroli has a huge potential to become the steel city of India, Fadnavis said the government will ensure that local youths and women get priority in jobs in new industries in the region.

Meanwhile, Police registered a case against a man for allegedly harassing a 29-year-old woman from Navi Mumbai and seeking sexual favours from her, an official said on Tuesday.

The woman's husband took a loan of Rs 4.79 lakh from the 28-year-old accused in March 2021. Between July 2021 and December 2022, the couple repaid the loan amount.

Even as the loan amount was returned, the accused began to threaten the woman, her husband and son, the official from Rabale police station said. The accused also went to the woman's residence in Ghansoli area where he allegedly abused her and demanded sexual favours from her, he said. He also coerced the couple into paying him an additional sum of Rs 4,96,500, as per the victim's complaint.

After facing the harassment for about one year, the victim approached the police.

A case was registered on Monday against the accused under Indian Penal Code sections 386 (extortion), 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), 354 (A) (sexual harassment), 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 506(2) (criminal intimidation), and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), the official said. (With inputs from PTI)