Mumbai: Shivaji Maharaj's thoughts, achievements to be played everyday at Mantralaya to inspire people

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The Maharashtra government on Wednesday said it has undertaken an initiative, wherein the thoughts and achievements of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will be played in audio format at the Mantralaya in Mumbai for a couple of minutes everyday on its public announcement system, reported news agency PTI.

The move, which will be on for a year, was launched on Wednesday with the intention that people visiting the Mantralaya, the state secretariat in south Mumbai, draw inspiration from the legendary 17th century king's life.

This is an initiative of the state cultural affairs ministry.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar were present at the launch of the system on Wednesday, reported PTI.

"The state administrative headquarters, also known as Mantralaya, has a public announcement system which is occasionally used for issuing instructions to people on the premises. The system will now be used for announcing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's thoughts at 10.45 am everyday," a statement issued by the state cultural affairs department said, reported PTI.

The audio will last two to three minutes. It will include thoughts of Shivaji Maharaj, his major achievements in his lifetime, his valour among others, it said.

People, state employees and officers who visit the Mantralaya, are expected to draw inspiration from the life and works of Shivaji Maharaj. This system will be on for one year to commemorate the 350th year of Shivaji Maharaj's coronation ceremony, the statement said.

Shivaji Maharaj, who laid the foundation of the Maratha empire, is a revered figure not only in Maharashtra, but in other parts of India.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said the state government will renovate 250 ashram schools with modern facilities as he hailed tribals as freedom fighters and protectors of the environment.

Addressing a function at Jawhar in Palghar district via video link to mark World Tribal Day, Eknath Shinde said his government was committed to working towards bringing tribals and the working-class people into the mainstream of development, reported PTI.

Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar also addressed the gathering via a video link.

"Tribals share a close relationship with the land and the environment. They have been protecting the rich natural resources, including forests, in the country for ages," the chief minister said, adding they also made considerable contributions to the freedom movement, reported PTI.

He said it is the responsibility of all to bring tribal people into the mainstream of development.

"Keeping this in mind, the government is working to provide them with education, employment, and health facilities. The government has decided to renovate 250 ashram shalas (boarding schools) in the state and transform them into model ashram schools," the chief minister said.

He said the government will implement a scheme to ensure that tribal students get an education in renowned schools and become capable to crack entrance exams for engineering and medical courses and IITs.
To encourage higher education for tribals, 100 students are provided assistance to complete their PHDs, Shinde said.

"In villages where 50 per cent of the population is of tribals, 17 different posts via direct recruitment will be filled from the local tribal population," the CM said.

He told the gathering that forest rights claims of more than 1 lakh tribals were cleared till November-end last year.

(With inputs from PTI)