Minister of Food, Civic Supplies and Customer Protection Chaggan Bhujbal said that the historic Bhide Wada, the building where India’s first girl’s school was started by Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule in 1848, will be redeveloped as a national monument and will house a girl’s school.
Bhujbal and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister visited the historic premises to participate in the event organised on the death anniversary of the social reformer.
Baghel said, “Mahatma Phule’s work for education and empowerment of women and welfare of farmers is important and is greatly relevant even today. It’s an honour to be felicitated in his name.”
Due to issues related to opposition from shop owners, who run their business from the premises the plan to redevelop Bhide Wada as a national monument has not taken off. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Bhujbal requested the administration of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and shop owners to settle the matter out of court.
“The work on expanding the Bhide Wada and developing it as a national monument will commence soon. The issues of land acquisition will be resolved at the earliest. Apart from this, a life-size statue of Krantjyoti Savitribai Phule will be erected at Savitribai Phule Pune University campus,” said Bhujbal.
Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and his wife Savitribai Phule started the Bhide Wada school on January 1, 1848, in Pune.
A political function at The City Congress Committee at Congress Bhavan saw participation from Chattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
