Fadnavis meets Prince Rahim Aga Khan; assures support for healthcare, conservation initiatives

Mumbai, Maharashtra - Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met with Prince Rahim Aga Khan on Sunday, assuring the government's backing for the foundation's projects in education, healthcare, tribal welfare, and environmental conservation. Prince Rahim was in Maharashtra for his first official visit as the fifth Aga Khan. Fadnavis emphasized the state's willingness to collaborate on public-private partnerships with the Aga Khan Development Network.

He praised the network's work in rural water conservation and environmental protection, stating that the interventions in water-scarce areas had yielded significant results. The Maharashtra government expressed intent to collaborate and scale up these projects in broader regions through such partnerships. During the meeting, discussions centered on setting up an institutional mechanism for dialogue between the state government and the AKDN to review and expand various projects.

Additionally, a study on mitigating urban heat was presented, highlighting the potential benefits of green cover, environment-friendly planning, and climate action initiatives for Maharashtra's cities. The chief minister also welcomed proposals for a children's hospital, geriatric healthcare facilities, skill-based healthcare training, and research facilities.

Fadnavis pledged to gather necessary information and provide necessary support for these initiatives. The meeting also addressed cultural heritage conservation, preservation of historical sites, green initiatives, and community-participatory projects. The AKDN expressed enthusiasm for expanding similar initiatives in Maharashtra.

Prince Rahim expressed gratitude to Fadnavis for the opportunities to collaborate on development projects in the state, vowing to implement projects on a larger scale in collaboration with the state government across healthcare, environment, skill development, and social development sectors.