Maharashtra Sevak | Ahmednagar

Development steps to mark Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar’s 300th Birth Anniversary

A special cabinet meeting was held on May 6, 2025, at Chaundi, on the occasion of Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar’s 300th birth anniversary, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Through this meeting, the Cabinet approved several developmental works worth Rs 5,520 crore to boost the region’s cultural, social, educational, and health sectors. Earlier during his first term as Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis held a special cabinet meeting for Marathwada on October 4, 2016. Later, when he was the Deputy Chief Minister of the Eknath Shinde government, another special cabinet meeting was held for Marathwada on September 16, 2023.  

Unique Gem of Maharashtra: Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar

2025 will see the 300th birth anniversary of Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar. She was born on 31 May 1725 in the village of Chaundi (historical name Ahilyanagar Chaundi) in the Ahilyanagar district. Her maiden name was Ahilya Shinde. After her marriage to Khanderao Holkar, son of Malharrao Holkar, she became Ahilyadevi Holkar. After the deaths of her husband, father-in-law, and son, Rajmata Ahilyabai took the reins of the Holkar dynasty and created a glorious period in Indian history of good governance, social welfare, and humanitarian works, along with religious, educational, and cultural advancements. Punyashlok Rajmata Ahilyadevi is also remembered for her initiatives to rebuild numerous Hindu temples, including the Kashi-Visheshwar temple, which were destroyed by the foreign forces that invaded India many times before. Many temples, ghats, and dharamshalas, commissioned by her in the religious places, have existed through the centuries, carrying her revered name.

A multi-lingual film on Punyashlok Ahilyadevi’s contributions will be made

Punyashlok Ahilyadevi is a beloved figure of Indian history with many legends about her humanitarian efforts and dedication to revitalize Hindu religious practices through the restoration of many ancient temples, mathas, and ghats, as well as building many new ones. Now, the state government is going to make a commercial multilingual film on her as a special tribute and to spread her name and philosophy beyond the boundaries of the state. The cost for the film will be met through a budgetary sanction. In addition, medical colleges, hostels, and temple development plans have been made in her memory. A fund of Rs. 681.32 crore has been approved to conserve Chaundi as a memorial site. In the future, this place can become a center of religious tourism.

‘Adishakti Abhiyan’ for women; Special ITI for girls

The Maharashtra government has launched an initiative called ‘Adishakti Abhiyan’ to empower women, especially in the rural areas of the state, by addressing their health, education, economic self-reliance, and awareness to bring about positive changes in their lives. ‘Adishakti Puraskar’ will be given to the gram panchayats that implement the Adishakti Abhiyan excellently. Rs 10.50 crore will be spent on this campaign. A decision has also been taken to start a special ITI for girls in Ahilyanagar to boost women’s employment.

Education and hostel schemes named after Ahilyabai Holkar and Yashwantrao Holkar

It was decided to name the hostel scheme for meritorious students from the Dhangar community pursuing post-matric education as ‘Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Hostel Scheme’ and the scheme to send students from the Dhangar community to a renowned English-medium residential school as ‘Raje Yashwantrao Holkar English Medium Residential Education Scheme.’ The state government has approved the construction of hostels with a capacity of 200 students (100 boys and 100 girls) in Navi Mumbai, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik, Nagpur, and Amravati, which are the headquarters of the Revenue Department. The work on the hostel in Nashik has already started, and the same in Pune and Nagpur are next to come.

Local access to the Judiciary

A new medical college for 100 students and a 430-bed hospital will be started in the Ahilyanagar district. A fund of Rs. 485 crore has been approved for this. It has also been decided to establish a high-level civil court at Rahuri to improve people’s access to justice in this area, with approval given for 1 post of judicial officer, 20 posts of employees, and 4 workers to be hired through external mechanisms for this court. This decision is very important given the demand for a local judicial system from the local citizens.

Move to redevelop objects of religious, cultural, and historical significances

Revival of water sources built by Ahilyadevi Holkar: This is not just a tribute to a historical site but also an initiative for water conservation, for which a fund of Rs 75 crore has been approved. Also, on the occasion of the tercentenary birth anniversary of Rajmata Punyashloka Ahilyadevi Holkar, major religious places in Maharashtra will be developed to commemorate her temple reconstruction drive. For this, an amount of Rs 5503 crore has been allocated through the temple development plans. In this, Rs 681.32 crore has been approved for the preservation and conservation of the Punyashloka Ahilyadevi Holkar Smriti Sthal at Chaundi, Rs 147.81 crore for the renovation of Ashtavinayak Ganapati temples, Rs 1865 crore for the development plan of Shri Kshetra Tuljabhawani Devi Temple, Rs 259.59 crore for the development plan of Shri Kshetra Jyotiba Temple, Rs 275 crore for the development plan of Shri Kshetra Trimbakeshwar, Rs 1445.97 crore for the development plan of Shri Kshetra Mahalaxmi Temple, and Rs 829 crore for the development plan of Shri Kshetra Mahurgad.

The period of the ‘Mission Mahagram’ scheme implemented under the Village Social Transformation Foundation (VSTF) has been extended till 2028. This will further strengthen the processes of village development. The period of the Mission Mahagram programme was from 2022 to 2025. Also, it has been decided to issue the ‘Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority Ordinance-2025’ to prepare for the possible Kumbh Mela to be held at Nashik-Trimbakeshwar.

The special cabinet meeting (Ahilyanagar cabinet meeting) held by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis focuses on social awareness, preservation of historical heritage, empowerment of women, development of religious tourism and provision of facilities in rural areas. Earlier, Devendra Fadnavis, while serving Maharashtra, has focused on developing various parts of the state. A program was fixed through a special cabinet meeting to resolve the issues of water and industry in Marathwada. Its implementation is now taking place in phases. Similarly, the special meeting held at Ahilyanagar has focused on important issues.

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