In a significant policy shift, the Maharashtra government has decided to extend the reach of the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF). The fund can now be used to provide financial assistance to organisations belonging to the Maharashtrian community that are operating outside the geographical boundaries of the state.
New Powers for the Chief Minister
The decision was formalized through a Government Resolution (GR) issued by the General Administration Department (GAD). The GR grants the Chief Minister the sole authority to approve financial aid from the CMRF for these external institutions. The assistance is specifically earmarked for supporting unique and innovative work undertaken by these community organisations.
The official order states, "The Chief Minister shall have all the powers to provide financial assistance from the CMRF for institutions of the Maharashtrian community outside the state of Maharashtra for their distinctive and innovative work. The Chief Minister shall have the power to provide relaxations as required regarding the terms and conditions."
Background and Precedent
This expansion of the CMRF's mandate follows a recent precedent. Earlier, the state government had approved aid from the same fund for 865 villages located in the contentious Maharashtra-Karnataka border area. That assistance covered social, educational, cultural, and charitable institutions within Maharashtra, disbursed at the CM's discretion.
"After that, the assistance from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund was also demanded by charitable institutions outside the state. The state government finally took a decision in this regard," explained a government official, highlighting the demand that led to the new policy.
About the Chief Minister's Relief Fund
The CMRF is not a new entity. It was established as a public trust back in 1967 with a core mission: to provide urgent financial support during natural disasters, major accidents, and for medical treatments for the impoverished.
In a landmark development, the Maharashtra CMRF achieved a national first in May 2025. It became the first state relief fund in India to receive a Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) certificate. This crucial certification legally permits the fund to receive and utilize donations from international sources, significantly broadening its resource pool.
The government's latest move to extend the CMRF's benefits to Marathi institutions beyond Maharashtra marks a strategic effort to foster and maintain cultural and social ties with the diaspora. It empowers the Chief Minister to directly support community-driven innovation and development wherever Maharashtrians have established a presence.
