Maharashtra Allocates ₹18 Crore for Marathi Literary Event

The Maharashtra government has allocated ₹18 crore for the 100th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, scheduled for January at Savitribai Phule Pune University. Language Minister Uday Samant announced the funding breakdown: ₹5 crore for the main convention, ₹5 crore for 99 prelude conventions across India, ₹2 crore for 12 international conventions through CSR funds, and ₹3.25 crore for youth conventions at 13 universities.

The government plans to establish a translation committee named after former Chief Minister Yashwantrao Chavan to translate quality literature into Marathi. Samant emphasized preparing dictionaries of Marathi dialects for preservation and announced the *Majhi Marathi, Abhijat Marathi* programme across universities.

Addressing recent controversy, Samant dismissed "false narratives" about a three-language policy, reiterating the government's commitment to strengthening Marathi. The state also provided ₹1 crore to Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad for institutional strengthening.