Now, governing council to run Sewagram Ashram

NAGPUR: Pratishthan (SAP) has got yet another jolt. Recently the pratishthan had reported the case of missing spectacles of Gandhiji. The Sarv Seva Sangh (SSS), which oversees the Ashram, would set up a five-member governing council to manage the ashram affairs.
The decision to appoint a council was taken at the Sangh's recent meeting held at Farkabad in Uttar Pradesh.Highly-placed Sangh sources said that a former high court judge and renowned Gandhian Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari would be requested to head the governing council.
The Sangh members sought pratishthan chairman Madhao Gadkari's resignation for his failure to apprise them of missing Gandhi spectacles since November last year. "You're aware about the state of affairs at the Ashram. Many incidents took place which should not have been allowed. Of course, missing of Gandhi's spectacles was one of the examples of mismanagement prevailing there," SSS chairperson Radha Bhatt told TOI from Delhi.
She however clarified that the council would not replace the (SAP) but help them manage day-to-day affairs. "The people were not happy with the administration. The council members will help them by sharing their responsibility. They will also help them in future planning in safeguarding the valuables belonging to Gandhiji," Bhatt said. She however declined to name the members of governing council stating that a final decision would be taken after consultations with other members.
"I will come to ashram on August 19 for the purpose. Only after discussions with all the parties including Sewagram Ashram Pratishthan, the names would be finalized," she informed. Gadkari said that he will abide by Sangh's decision to set up a governing council and he had no objection. "If they want to help the Sewagram Ashram Pratishthan by constituting the council, it's good," he said. On the Sangh's charge of mismanagement at the ashram, Gadkari said it was their opinion and didn't agree with it. "It's not proper to say that I am responsible for Gandhiji's glasses being stolen from the ashram," he asserted.
A member of the ashram's board of trustees, Avinash Katade, however, hailed SSS's decision, stating that if the present administration was unable to manage the affairs of the Ashram, it must be replaced. "We are of the opinion that if SAP can't protect the valuables of Gandhiji, they should be replaced by a competent body appointed either by the state government or by Sangh," he stated.