States » WestPosted at: Oct 29 2026 12:33AM


Maha approves ₹230 Crore development plan for Mahatma Phule Memorial in Pune

Bharat Ghandat
Nashik, Oct 28 (UNI) The Maharashtra government has approved a ₹230 crore development proposal for the comprehensive redevelopment of Phulewada in Pune on the occasion of the 200th birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule. The project will include beautification of the historic premises and acquisition of the necessary land to transform the entire area, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced.
The decision was taken at a special meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Other Backward Classes (OBC), chaired by Bawankule at Mantralaya, in accordance with directions issued by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Gulabrao Patil, Soil and Water Conservation Minister Sanjay Rathod, Other Backward Classes and Bahujan Welfare Minister Atul Save, and senior officials from various departments attended the meeting.
Several policy decisions aimed at the welfare of the Bahujan and OBC communities were announced as part of the birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Phule.
Officials were directed to complete the construction of a memorial at the historic Bhidewada site in Pune, where Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule established the first school for girls, within the next three weeks.
The committee also decided that welfare schemes implemented by 11 major departments, including Revenue, Water Supply, Forests and departments involved in drought mitigation, would be named after Mahatma Jyotiba Phule.
Separate government resolutions to this effect will be issued soon.
OBC Hostels to Be Built in All 36 Districts
To promote educational opportunities for OBC students, the government plans to construct hostels with a capacity of 500 students each in all 36 districts of Maharashtra. The Revenue Department will provide land for these hostels at a nominal rate of just ₹1. The Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC) has prepared the official designs for the proposed facilities.
In another significant decision, the committee approved the separation of the budget allocation for Vimukta Jatis and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT) from the overall OBC budget to ensure that development funds directly benefit these communities.
A provision for a separate budget head will be sought from the Finance Department during the legislative session scheduled for December.
Separate Panel for VJNT Community Survey
Following the model of the Shinde Committee established for the Maratha community, the government will constitute a separate study committee to conduct a socio-economic survey of the VJNT community and recommend measures to bring it into the mainstream of development.
The committee also decided to take urgent steps to fill the backlog of 27 per cent vacant posts earmarked for OBC candidates across government departments.
Additionally, the scope of the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Research and Training Institute (MAHAJYOTI) will be expanded along the lines of SARTHI, with the objective of strengthening its operations and improving support for beneficiaries.
During the presentation on the proposed hostels, officials were instructed to review the estimated construction costs. The final approval will be considered at the next meeting after examining the designs and cost estimates submitted by three reputed architects.
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