Maharashtra Governor calls for empowering gram panchayats to realize Gandhiji’s dream of Gram Swaraj
The Governor of Maharashtra CH. Vidyasagar Rao called for devolving all 29 powers to Gram Sabhas in the spirit of the 73rdConstitutional amendment, to realize Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of Gram Swaraj. The Governor said empowering and developing villages alone will stop the exodus of people from rural to urban areas.
Reminding that only one year is left to the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Governor appealed to government and private sector organizations, and colleges and universities to give a fresh impetus to the Swachch Bharat Abhiyan in Maharashtra to achieve the goal of clean and neat India by 2019.
The Governor was participating in a Seminar on Gandhian thoughts organized to commemorate Gandhi Jayanti at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai on Tuesday (2 Oct).
‘Charkha, a symbol of Dignity of Labour’
Speaking on the theme ‘Gandhiji Aaj Ke Sandarbh Me’, Justice Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari, retired Judge, Bombay High Court called for respecting the dignity of labour.
“It is ironical that people who create trash are respected by society while those who toil hard to clean it are looked down upon”, said Dharmadhikari. He said the Charkha (spinning wheel) used by Mahatma Gandhi to spin khadi was a symbol of dignity of labour.
Dharmadhikari appealed to the people to use two sets of khadi clothes in a year as it will provide employment to one crore people.
‘He dared to think and act differently’
President of Mani Bhavan Dr Usha Thakkar remarked that Gandhiji dared to think and act differently. She noted that Gandhi’s concept of non-violence was an instrument to achieve social justice. Stating that Gandhiji worked for the empowerment of the oppressed sections of society, Dr Thakkar said Gandhiji combined ethics with politics.
A bhajan programme ‘Bhavanjali’ was presented by artist under the auspices of Regional Outreach Bureau.
Earlier, the Governor offered floral tributes to the portraits of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.
The Governor also witnessed an exhibition showcasing the influence of Mahatma Gandhi and his values in Indian Cinema, put up by the National Film Archives of India.
Dr Suhas Pednekar, Vice Chancellor of University of Mumbai, Dr Shashikala Wanjari, Vice Chancellor, SNDT Women’s University, Principals of Colleges, senior government officers, R N Mishra, Director General (West Zone) Press Information Bureau, Prakash Makdum, Director of National Film Archives of India and officers and staff of Raj Bhavan were present.