PUNE: Spelling out inevitability of private investment in almost all walks of social life, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Monday said that education, health and infrastructure will have more private partnership in coming days.

CM was speaking at 46th foundation day function of Bharati Vidyapeeth (BV) in city. For the Maharashtra to become globally competitive state, social sectors need huge investments that are possible only through public-private partnership, Chavan said.

“Only education can lay solid foundation for prosperous future. To widen base of education, private partnership is must as no government is not in position to invest huge funds required for it,” he added. Chavan dispelled fears of commercialisation of education saying, “Similar apprehensions were expressed when higher education opened doors to private institutes. Time has proved that barring a few, majority private institutes are doing fine.”

Though the private partnership in education and infrastructure is not so unfamiliar, the inclusion of health sector in the list by the Chief Minister was unexpected. “Higher income families have an option to get best possible treatments although it means higher costs. But poor people are deprived of best medical care and private partnerships can be a solution,” Chavan clarified.

Underlining importance of university level research, Chavan said, “Small and Medium Enterprises can immensely benefit by research in universities as they cannot afford their own R&D section. To solve issue of employment, the state government is inviting industries which will give 100 % placement to pass outs of local educational institutes.”

Founder of Bharati Vidyapeeth Patangrao Kadam, union minister of state for heavy industries Arun Yadav, AICTE officiating chairman S S Mantha, vice chancellor of Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Shivajirao Kadam, vice chancellor, Shivaji University N J Pawaer, Bharati Vidyapeeth secretary Vishwajit Kadam, poet N D Mahanor, were present.