APPENDIX—XI
ACTIVITIES OF THE BAHISHKRIT HITAKARINI
SABHA AT BOMBAY
I
“BAHISHKRIT HITAKARINI SABHA
Survey of Work Done
The annual general meeting of the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha which is a Society for the uplift of the Depressed Classes, was held at its head office in the Damodar Thackersey Hall, Parel, Bombay, on 18th instant. The report of the work for the year 1925 disclosed that the work of the Sabha was threefold. In the matter of the education of the Depressed Classes the Sabha has been conducting a Hostel near Sholapur for 15 Students of the Depressed Classes taking secondary education, at a total cost of Rs. 2,669-0-8. Accommodation in the hostel is entirely free. In the first year of its existence the Sabha could not do much for the cultural and economic uplift of the Depressed Classes. However, the Sabha helped the Mahars of the villages in Nasik District to obtain redress of their grievances in Watandari matters. The financial statement for the year disclosed an income of Rs. 3,169-1-0 and expenditure of Rs. 2,938-13-6.
The Work Done
The Sabha has opened a library and reading room for the Depressed Classes in the Improvement Trust Chawl, Byculla. It has also organised a hockey club for young men of the Depressed Classes near Parel. An important organisation of students of the Depressed Classes known as the Bahishkrit Vidyarthi Sammelan has been organised by the Sabha. It is a kind of Depressed Classes Students’ Brotherhood and it is conducting a Marathi monthly styled Vidya Vilas to which students of the Depressed Classes contribute articles. In the economic sphere, the Sabha has organised three co-operative credit societies for the Depressed Classes. The cost of the programme for the year 1926 is expected to reach Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 30,000.—A. P.