Doubt on the commencement of Santpeeth

Aurangabad, Jan 22:

The Maharashtra higher and technical education minister Uday Samant had last year announced that to start the Santpeeth at Paithan from January 2021. However, there is no sign of it being implemented as the process remains on paper.

During his visit on September 18, 2020, Samant had said that the Santpeeth will be named after Sant Eknath Maharaj and will be started from January 2021 in Paithan. Also, the ordinance in this regard will be issued within 15 days. He had also stated that the santpeeth will run under Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University and the state government will pay the administrative cost to the university. Accordingly, the vice-chancellor Dr Pramod Yeole submitted a proposal on the structure, proposed syllabus, working system, necessary expenses, etc. to the government through the director of higher education, Dhanraj Mane. The santpeeth building was inaugurated on a 6,958 square feet plot of land at Paithan. The facility is equipped with a hall, hostel, modern library and dining hall as well as room for post office and bank and water tank. However, as the building was closed after the inauguration, the doors and windows were stolen and the condition of the building deteriorated. The government has sanctioned a fund of Rs 1 crore through the district planning committee for the repair of this building. The repair work is currently in the tender process.

Errors in the proposal

Dhanraj Mane, director of higher education, said the proposal sent by the university had several flaws. The university is expected to send a revised proposal. We have not yet received a revised proposal. Once the proposal is received, it will be sent to the government. A decision will be taken thereafter.