E-Paper
Beautification of Bhima Koregaon victory memorial awaits Rs 100 crore govt funds
Athawale, who visited the memorial during the anniversary celebrations on January 1, 2019, had announced that the central and state governments would collectively spend Rs 100 crore on beautification of the memorial
A year after Dalit leader and Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Ramdas Athawale announced the development and beautification of the Bhima Koregaon Vijay Stambh (victory memorial obelisk), the memorial site awaits funds.
Athawale, who visited the memorial during the anniversary celebrations on January 1, 2019, had announced that the central and state governments would collectively spend Rs 100 crore on beautification of the memorial.
When pointed out that funds are still awaited, Athawale said, “We had announced about the funds to be spent for the Bhima Koregaon memorial beautification project and a proposal has been given to the state government through the district collector of Pune. The plan has been readied by the district planning development committee and is awaiting sanction from the state. The plan involves purchasing land in the neighbourhood of ‘Vijay Stambh’ and the beautification of the area.”
Athawale had then said that the state government had prepared a Rs 63-crore development plan for the Bhima Koregaon memorial and the central government would further chip in to increase the amount to Rs 100 crore. The objective was to develop the site as an important centre for Dalits, Athawale had said.
Naval Kishore Ram, Pune district collector, confirmed that no funds had been received towards the Rs 100 crore proposal and declined to elaborate. “Our focus now is on law and order and smooth conduct of the event. The state government is spending funds on security and public services for the people visiting on January 1,” said Ram.
“As far as the beautification project is concerned, the issue will be taken up after the January 1 celebrations. I don’t want to comment on the Rs 100 crore fund project which involves beautification of the memorial area,” he said.
Bhima Koregaon Shaurya Din coordination committee president Rahul Dambale also regretted the delay in sanctioning the promised funds.
Siddharth Dhende, former deputy mayor of Pune Municipal Corporation and prominent Dalit leader, said that funds are needed to develop the area around the Vijay Stambh. “Currently, only 11.05 acres is registered on paper. There are problems like sanitation, drinking water and new constructions are taking place around the monument and hence, the surrounding land must be acquired by the state,” said Dhende.
Honouring fallen heroes at Bhima Koregaon
Location
The victory memorial obelisk, popularly known as ‘Vijay Stambh’ is located at Perne hamlet in Bhima Koregaon village, about 30 km from Pune.
Importance
According to the Dalit narrative, the 1818 battle is the victory over casteism as the British Army comprising a large contingent of Dalit Mahar soldiers had defeated the forces of Peshwas at Bhima Koregaon. Later ‘Vijaystambh’ was erected by the British as a memorial for soldiers killed in the Bhima Koregaon battle on January 1, 1818.
Violence in Bhima Koregaon had killed one in 2018
-Violence broke out during the bi-centenary celebrations of Koregaon Bhima battle, on January 1, 2018, in which one person was killed. Samasta Hindu Aghadi president Milind Ekbote, who was arrested in March 2018 in connection with the violence, was later granted bail by the Supreme Court. Right-wing leader Sambhaji Bhide was booked in the case but not arrested.
-A coalition of 260 organisations under the umbrella of ‘Bhima Koregaon Shaurya Din Prerna Abhiyaan’ had organised the conclave on December 31, 2018, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle of Bhima-Koregaon battle.
10 lakh people
attended the 201st commemoration event on January 1, 2019
25 lakh people
are expected this year (2020) according to Bhima Koregaon Shaurya Din coordination committee
