‘Kavi Kalidas Sanskrit Sadhana’ award increased to Rs 1 lakh

• The government acts on the demand raised by the daily ‘Sanatan Prabhat’ !

• Stalled funds for Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya to be released !

Nagpur, Dec 16 – The government has increased the amount of ‘Kavi Kalidas Sanskrit Sadhana’ award given by the Higher and Technical Education Department for the promotion and dissemination of Sanskrit language to Rs 1 lakh. ‘Kavi Kulguru Kalidas Sanskrut Vishwavidyalaya’ at Nagpur gives this award every year. However, the university was not even funded by the government for the distribution of the last six awards. The daily Sanatan Prabhat was the first to report on the matter and published reports from time to time. Both these demands have been acted upon by the government and in the winter session of the Vidhimandal (legislature) on December 16, a fund of Rs 23.68 lakh has been approved for the Mahakavi Kalidas Sanskrit Sadhana Puraskar and Gyanjyoti Savitribai Phule Puraskar Scheme.

The ‘Mahakavi Kalidas Sanskrit Sadhana’ award is given to eight people, including professors, teachers, priests, activists, etc., who have promoted and disseminated Sanskrit, that included a citation and Rs. 25,000 each. This award has been given since 2012. However, in the last 12 years, the amount of this award has not been increased by a single rupee. More than 10 awards and programs are organized every year for the promotion of Urdu language. Millions of rupees spent on it were reported in the daily ‘Sanatan Prabhat’. In the winter session of the legislature an amount of Rs. 1 lakh has been approved for each of the 8 awards to be given for Sanskrit language.

Other issues about the award put forth by the daily ‘Sanatan Prabhat’ !

1. In the government order issued regarding this award, it is clearly stated that ‘Mahakavi Kalidas Sanskrit Sadhana Puraskar’ should be given on ‘Sanskrit Day’ i.e. on the day of Narali Purnima, However, not once has this award been given on Sanskrit Day. So, every year, the award should be honoured by giving it on Sanskrit Day.

2. The Mahakavi Kalidas Sanskrit Sadhana Award meant for for 6 years – from 2015 to 2020 – were given all at once in the year 2021. Even before that, the award of 2-3 years were given together. Although it is mentioned in government order that this award should be given every year, it is not being observed.

Money approved for stalled funds meant for the award ceremony !

From 2015 to 2020, a sum of Rs 18,17,958 was spent by The Kalidas Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya for the award ceremony; However, the non release of the funds by the government was revealed in the daily Sanatan Prabhat. These funds were also approved by the government in supplementary demands in the winter session.

Significant contribution of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti

After this news was published in the daily ‘Sanatan Prabhat’, the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti had demanded that the then Minister of Higher and Technical Education Chandrakant Patil should increase the fund of Mahakavi Kalidas Sanskrit Sadhana Award  and this award should be given in timely manner. Hindu Janjagruti Samiti and Surajya Abhiyan run by it had persistently followed up with government on this issue. The demands made by Samiti has been met now.