Chandigarh, April 11: Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal said that Mahatma Jyotiba Phule dedicated his entire life for the upliftment of farmers and the poor. He also took the initiative to educate women and today people need to imbibe the teachings of this great man in their lives.

The Chief Minister was speaking at the state-level birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule in Kurukshetra on Tuesday. Earlier, he inaugurated the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Chowk and also unveiled his statue.

The Chief Minister, MP Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, MLA Sh. Subhash Sudha, MLA Sh. Ram Karan Kala, MLA Sh. Ram Kumar Kashyap and other dignitaries offered floral tributes on the photo of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule at the birth anniversary celebrations. During the programme, Sh. Manohar Lal announced to give Rs. 31 lakh from his personal fund to the Saini community and Rs. 21 lakh on behalf of MP Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.

The Chief Minister said that the state government is running the Sant Mahapurush Samman evam Vichar Prasar Yojana, under which birth anniversaries of saints and great men are officially celebrated; with the aim of spreading their message and teachings to the masses and to inspire the youth. In this regard, a state level programme will be organised to commemorate Dhanna Bhagat Ji's birth anniversary on April 23 in Kaithal’s Dhanauri village.

Extending wishes to the people of the state on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, the Chief Minister said that Mahatma Jyotiba Phule dedicated his entire life to education. “This great man was a social reformer in the true sense. He had said that there is nothing without education and the person who will not be educated, his life will not be successful. He also worked to educate women,” he added.

The Chief Minister said that the state government is continuously working; inspired by the life of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule. “The government has started various schemes in the spirit of Antyodaya and has done the work of connecting the last mile people. In the last 5 years, the data of people belonging to extremely backward classes has been collected and on the basis of these figures, the government is making several schemes,” he added.