Addressing more than 1,000 mathadis (load bearers) from across Maharashtra on the occasion of the 83rd birth anniversary celebrations of the late mathadi leader Annasaheb Patil, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday assured the mathadis of affordable homes, schools and hospitals. “The prosperity of any state depends on the condition of mathadis. Fadnavis became the second chief minister of the saffron alliance — after Sena’s Manohar Joshi — to attend the mathadi gathering, predominantly a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) stronghold. Narendra Patil, a member of legislative council and mathadi union leader had put forth demands for affordable housing, hospitals, schools and changes in labour laws for mathadis. The chief minister formed a committee to reform the mathadi law.

Source: Hindustan Times September 25, 2016 12:36 UTC