RTI: Thackeray government added 42% more employment despite the Maha epidemic, boosting business by 35%

Contrary to predictions, Maharashtra took advantage of the Covid-19 epidemic and triumphed with flying colors in terms of new micro, small, and medium-sized firms, jobs, and investments, according to an RTI response.

According to the RTI answer sent to Pune businessman Praffull Sarda, Maharashtra continues to dominate the nation in terms of new industries, employment opportunities, and investments.

The state added 18,68,055 new MSMEs under the Shiv Sena (UBT)-Congress-Nationalist Congress Party Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) cabinet of former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s 30-month term (November 2019–June 2022).

In contrast, during the state’s five-year tenure under the BJP-led administration of former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (until October 2019), 14,16,224 MSMEs were created.

Similar to the employment front, 88,47,905 jobs were added under Thackeray’s 30-month administration as opposed to 62,36,878 jobs during Fadnavis’ five-year rule.

“This is a huge difference of 451,831 MSMEs or 35% higher, and a difference of 26,11,027 new jobs or 42 percent more, during Thackeray’s government as compared to Fadnavis’ full tenure,” added Sarda.

According to RTI statistics, during the height of the epidemic, while Thackeray was in power, the state registered 621,296 new businesses, creating a total of 44,60,149 jobs (2020–2021).

The number of new firms increased dramatically the following year from 621,296 to 894,674, although the number of new employment decreased somewhat from 44,60,149 to 42,36,436 (2021-2022), according to the answer.

Following the overthrow of the Thackeray administration, the number of new businesses decreased precipitously from 894,674 to 734,956, and the number of job openings likewise fell precipitously from 42,36,436 to 24,94,691 (2022–2023).

According to the RTI answer, Maharashtra registered a staggering 22.50 lakh new MSMEs between July 2020 and March 2023, and approximately 1.12 crore new jobs were generated, ensuring the state’s economic success and employment.

The epidemic, a hostile BJP-led opposition at the federal and state levels, as well as other political or health emergency-related problems that severely impacted the nation, according to official numbers, show that the MVA administration fared significantly better.

According to statistics from prior years, throughout Fadnavis’ five years in office, the state’s economic development engine was strong and moving quickly, surpassing several other Indian states.

525,735 employment were created in the state between 2015 and 2016 thanks to investments of Rs 16,74,238-Lakh from 54,045 firms. With investments of Rs. 70,15,525 lakhs, this rose dramatically over time, affecting 611,561 firms and creating 28,73,764 new employment (2018–2019).

The economic engine was chugging at full-throttle after the Thackeray government took office, as 704,171 firms with an investment of Rs 71,01,067 lakhs helped strengthen the labor market by adding 30,26,406 new jobs (2019-2020).

The current government of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Fadnavis, and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s claims that the state was “at a standstill during the pandemic when the MVA ruled” have been shown to be false. In actuality, there seems to be a current general deterioration, according to Sarda.