Maharashtra, which is already reeling under a debt of over Rs 2.50 lakh crore, has refused to contribute Rs 19 crore for the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda.
A committee headed by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, and comprising Union ministers and chief ministers of various states, has decided to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. The Government of India has already announced a sum of `100 crore for the celebrations and various state governments have been asked to contribute for the same.
Accordingly, a proposal of Rs 19 crore was put forth before the state government for the function.
However, Maharashtra, while denying that it is on the verge of bankruptcy, has expressed its inability to spare funds for the celebrations.
“The state government had formed a committee under the then chief secretary Ratnakar Gaikawad. A proposal was put up for allocating Rs 19 crore for the functions in Maharashtra, but the finance minister has passed clear remarks on the file that the state cannot spare funds,” said Swami Sarvalokananda, convener, celebrations and a member of the committee under the PM, which is planning the event.
Despite the lack of funds, state cultural minister Sanjay Deotale has promised Swamiji’s supporters of a three-day function in the state to mark the birth anniversary celebrations.
Ramkrishna Math and Ramkrishna Mission in Mumbai has also chalked out many programmes to promote the teachings of the leader.
The organisation will release books on the life and teachings of the spiritual leader in Hindi and Marathi on Monday. Apart from that, it has planned programmes that will run through the next one-and-a-half year. The expenditure will be born by the organisation.