State Govt. To Build Saint Shiromani Sen Maharaj Memorial
Bhopal: The State Government will provide land and requisite funds for construction of memorial of Saint Sen Maharaj at his birthplace Bandhavgarh in Umaria district. The teachings and spiritual literature Saint Shiromani Sen Maharaj will be published. The Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan made these announcements while addressing Kesh Shilpi Panchayat here today.
Shri Chouhan said that a proposal will be forwarded to the Centre urging it to enlist Sen Community as scheduled caste. The Panchayat was organized by the Urban Administration & Development Department in order to have dialogues the Sen community members.
The Chief Minister announced a number of facilities for the Sen Community members traditionally engaged in hair cutting occupation. He said that places will be specified for hair dressers in urban and rural areas. Hair dressers will be imparted trained into modern techniques while women belonging to the community will also be encouraged to receive formal training as beautician. The government will facilitate the community’s youths take loans for self-employment. Financial assistance will be also be ensured for taking loans from Rs. 50 thousand upto Rs. 2 lakh and above. Bank guarantee, loan subsidy and margin money will also be given to loan seekers.
Shri Chouhan said that hair dressers’ families will be covered under Deendayal Antyodaya Upchar Yojna and State Illness Fund. Their children will be given scholarship from first standard. Loan guarantee will also be extended for higher studies. Coverage of Janshree insurance scheme will also be available.
Reiterating commitment to advancement of the community, the Chief Minister said that all efforts would be made to uphold dignity of the community.
The Chief Minister felicitated Shri Jai Narayan Bhati, who holds world record in the art of hair dressing.
Describing members of Sen community as honest and hard working, Urban Administration & Development Minister Shri Babulal Gaur said that the State Government is working for the the poor, farmers and deprived sections who find social protection. Minister of State for Urban Administration & Development Shri Manohar Oontwal read out a message of Swami Achalananda Maharaj. He said that on the initiative of the Chief Minister, welfare schemes have been chalked out for every section. Several programmes have been chalked out for economic advancement of domestic maid servants, street vendors and handcart/rickshaw pullers. Photo identity cards have been issued to them.
Office-bearers of the organizations working toward welfare of Sen community and representatives gave suggestions.
Bharatiya Sen Samaj’s Madhya Pradesh chapter president Shri Subhash Verma said that it is for the first time in Madhya Pradesh that Sen community was invited to the Chief Minister’s residence and direct dialogue was held on development. He termed the event as historic for Madhya Pradesh.
Shri Nandkishore Verma said that group insurance scheme should be introduced for hereditary hair dressers. He demanded funds required for completing construction of Sen community’s Dharmshala at Omkareshwar.
Madhya Pradesh Yua Sen Samaj organisation’s Shri Hiralal Shriwas demanded land at Bhopal for construction of Sen community hall. He also demanded construction of a memorial at the birthplace of Sant Shiromani Shri Sen Maharaj at Bandhavgarh. Shri Raghuveer Shriwas, Shri Praveen Sen, Shri Satish Sen of Indore, Shri Omprakash Sen of Itarsi, Shri Mukesh Shriwas of Mandla, Shri Chandrahas Sen of Vidisha, Shri Dinesh Sen of Chhatarpur, Shri Bhupendra Sarathe of Sehore, Shri Raghuveer Shriwas of Bhind, Shri Gopal Sen of Narsinghpur and Shri Subhash Parmar of Indore also spoke on the occasion. Principal Secretary Urban Development Shri S.P.S. Parihar delivered the welcome address.
At the outset, the Chief Minister and guests garlanded a portrait of Sant Shiromani Sen Maharaj. School Education Minister Smt. Archana Chitnis, Transport Minister Shri Jagdish Deora, Women & Child Development Minister Smt. Ranjana Baghel, Mayor Smt. Krishna Gaur, Shri Narayan Keshri, Chief Secretary Shri R. Parasuram and members of the community in a large number from across the state were present.
