Mumbai: Jain pathsalas in Maharashtra are soon expected to receive financial aid from the state government’s minority department. The Jain Minority Financial Development Corporation (JMFDC) of the state approved the demand and has started working on the plan which will empower Jain pathshalas to impart education of Prakrit language and computer technology at its centres.

JMFDC, a welfare board for the Jain community set up by the Mahrashtra government in October, conducted its second meeting on Wednesday. The meeting, which was attended by community leaders, came to a decision of providing government aid to Jain pathshalas. This aid will be in line with the financial aid provided to madrasas and catholic schools for non-religious teachings.

After Prakrit language was conferred with the status of Classical Language by the union cabinet in October, Jain organisations have planned to teach Prakrit language at their pathshalas, which is the major language used in Jain religious scriptures and manuscripts. JMFDC has decided that the pathshalas teaching Prakrit and Sanskrit languages to students will be referred for financial aid from the state’s minority department.

After the corporation approved the plan in its second meeting, it has started working on conceptualising it and preparing a proposal to be pitched to the minority department. According to the plan, JMFDC will invite applications from pathshalas in March and will implement the scheme from April.

Talking to The Free Press Journal, Lalit Gandhi, chairperson of JMFDC, said, “The plan is to provide financial aid to pathshalas teaching Prakrit language, with a primary focus on rural areas. This will also help with computer and English knowledge to women who are studying religious matters at the centres.”

Jain community organisations had been demanding financial aid for their educational centres from around ten years. All India Jain Minority Federation (AIJMF), one of the organisations which was a part of the meeting on Wednesday and has been pushing for government aid, said that this aid will be beneficial for pathshalas in rural areas as they do not have enough resources as compared to those in the cities.

Sandeep Bhandari, national general secretary of AIJMF, said, “Our pathshalas are the right source of learnings that instil morals among children to be dedicated towards their community, religion and the country. Today, these are the most important morals to be instilled in a child. However, Pathshalas based in cities are able to find donors and also find teachers who give their service pro bono. However, villages are not able to enjoy these privileges.”

The meeting also discussed construction of ‘vihaar dhaams’ for Jain monks and nuns travelling on foot across villages. The corporation has decided to construct halls in various government schools across the state, which will be used as ‘vihaar dhaams’ during the monks’ visit and can be used by the schools.