Maharashtra’s ‘My Village, Healthy Village’ Campaign Aims to Transform Rural Healthcare Through Community Power

In a major push to strengthen rural healthcare, the Government of Maharashtra has launched the ‘My Village, Healthy Village’ campaign, an ambitious initiative designed to transform village-level health systems through active community participation.

Announced under the leadership of Prakash Abitkar, the campaign focuses on preventive healthcare, awareness, and grassroots engagement to build healthier rural communities across the state.

A Shift Towards Preventive Healthcare

The initiative marks a strategic shift from reactive treatment to preventive care. Authorities aim to promote healthier lifestyles, early detection of diseases, and behavioral change at the village level.

Speaking at the launch, Abitkar emphasized that the campaign must evolve into a “people’s movement” rather than remain confined to a government programme. The goal is to ensure that healthcare awareness reaches every household, especially in remote and underserved areas.

Community at the Core

The campaign places strong emphasis on community involvement. Key stakeholders include:

• Gram Panchayats
• District and taluka administrations
• Primary Health Centres and sub-centres
• ASHA workers
• Local residents

Villages demonstrating exceptional performance will be recognised as “Arogya Sampann Gram” and rewarded based on transparent evaluation criteria. This incentive-based approach is expected to encourage healthy competition and sustained participation.

Strengthening Existing Healthcare Schemes

The initiative will also work to improve awareness and access to major government health schemes such as:

• Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
• Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana

Officials stressed the importance of ensuring that no eligible citizen is left out and that benefits reach the last mile.

Focus on Women and Preventive Health

As part of broader preventive efforts, the state is also running a vaccination drive targeting nearly 9.84 lakh girls aged 14, aimed at protecting them against serious diseases, including certain types of cancer.

This highlights the campaign’s focus on long-term public health outcomes, particularly among vulnerable groups.

Policy Backing and Implementation

The decision to roll out the campaign was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Devendra Fadnavis in February 2026.

The campaign was formally inaugurated at a divisional workshop held at Smt Kashibai Navale Medical College, where senior officials and public representatives gathered to outline the roadmap for implementation.

Towards a Healthier Rural Maharashtra

With its focus on awareness, participation, and prevention, the ‘My Village, Healthy Village’ campaign aims to build a robust and inclusive healthcare system at the grassroots level.

By combining government support with community ownership, Maharashtra is attempting to create a sustainable model for rural healthcare—one that prioritises accessibility, accountability, and long-term well-being.