PMC to revive nation's first girl school started by Savitribai Phule

Project-affected citizens, shopkeepers to be rehabilitated soon, says Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal

Project-affected citizens, shopkeepers to be rehabilitated soon, says Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal

The Pune Municipal Corporation will soon revive the country's first school for girls started by Savitribai Phule in January 1848 at the historical Bhide Wada located in Budhwar Peth. The project-affected local citizens and shopkeepers will be rehabilitated in the vicinity and classrooms will start inside the wada. Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal has taken an initiative regarding this and the decision was taken at a meeting in Mumbai attended by Pune Guardian Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Minister of State for Town Development Bhaskar Jadhav and state government officers.


In bad shape: The Bhide Wada, where Phule started the school, stands
opposite the Dagdushet Halwai Ganpati Temple in Budhwar Peth. File pic

The Bhide Wada is located just in front of the famous Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati temple in Budhwar Peth. Savitribai Phule, wife of social revolutionary Jyotirao Phule, started the girl's school in Bhide Wada on January 1, 1848, where she was also nominated the first headmistress of the school.

"The Bhide Wada won't be declared a heritage structure but we will revive the classroom and hall inside the wada. Training workshops under different schemes will be conducted for women by the various departments of the PMC," Rajpal said. "The shop owners, tenants and owners in the area of about 2,800 square feet had shown interest in the PMC's proposal if they were assured of proper rehabilitation. This process will be initiated by next week when MoS Town Development Bhaskar Jadhav is in Pune for a scheduled meeting."

The PMC is not stopping at just the revival of the school. "The PMC will also develop, expand and renovate the 200-metre stretch between Mahatma Phule Smarak (the residence of Phule in Ganj Peth) and Savitribai Phule Smarak. This will require rehabilitation of 62 house owners and 300 tenants," he said.

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