Ajit Pawar announces Rs 8 crore for SARTHI

SARTHI, a non-profit government company in Maharashtra working for the cause of Marathas and Kunbis, will not be shut down, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Thursday as he announced Rs 8 crore funds for the institute.

Assuring that the autonomy of the institute will remain intact, Pawar said it will work in a transparent manner.

The deputy chief minister made the remarks after holding a meeting with representatives of Maratha community led by Parliamentarian Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje at the Mantralaya.

Maharashtra ministers Nawab Malik and Vijay Wadettiwar were also present for the meeting.

Some organisations representing the Marathas had recently alleged that the autonomy of the institute was being jeopardised and it was being starved of funds.

The Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research Training and Human Development Institute (SARTHI) is a non-profit government company for research, policy advocacy, training etc. for socio-economic and education development of Maratha, Maratha- Kunbi, Kunbi-Maratha, Kunbi communities and the families dependent of agriculture.