Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday launched a programme to encourage financially well-off citizens to give up benefits that they enjoy under various government schemes, reported the PTI.

According to the PTI, the programme, `Dharmaveer Shri Anand Dighe Laab Samarpan Yojana`, is named after Shinde`s mentor late Anand Dighe, an immensely popular Shiv Sena leader from Thane district in Maharashtra.

Addressing a gathering on the occasion in Thane, CM Eknath Shinde said that his government is committed to the welfare of society and considers the people of the entire state as one family. He talked about the `decisive` step taken by the government over the Maratha issue, reported the PTI.

He also paid tribute at Anand Ashram, which was the office from where Dighe used to run the Shiv Sena in the region, on his mentor`s birth anniversary.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil on Saturday in Navi Mumbai`s Vashi where he and thousands of protestors were camping seeking reservations for the community. Manoj Jarange, who had begun his fast on Friday, was fed a glass of juice by CM Shinde as a mark of him ending his hunger strike. 

Manoj Jarange had stopped at the outskirts of Mumbai on Friday and presented new demands. The government engaged in talks with him late last night.

Both–CM Shinde and Jarange–paid homage to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj`s statue at the campsite before the latter ended his fast. The excitement among the protestors was palpable who cheered on Jarange and CM Shinde for agreeing to their demands, stated reports. The protestors dubbed it as a historic moment.

Maharashtra Ministers Deepak Kesarkar, Mangal Prabhat Lodha and other members of the new delegation constituted by the state were also present at Vashi. 

The state government released a draft ordinance on Friday night addressing the reservation demands of the Maratha community. The officials visited Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange at the campsite in response to his demand for the ordinance.

Jarange on January 26 stopped when he was just shy of entering Mumbai presenting a new demand. He warned they will proceed with the planned protest at Azad Maidan if the government does not relent to his demands and warned that he won`t back off if he begins his journey to South Mumbai ground.

(with PTI inputs)

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