The Gazetteers Department

This hostel was established in 1908 by the then Maharaja of Kolhapur, who held that the social status of the untouchables would not improve unless education was spread among them. It is named after the daughter of the then Governor of Bombay who gave a handsome donation towards the building fund. The institution is run with the sole object of spreading education among untouchables and help them raise their social status and to establish hostels for them.

The membership of the institution is classified as follows: - (i) patrons paying Rs. 1,000 and above; (ii) life-members paying Rs. 51 and more; (iii) ordinary members of four classes viz., persons paying Rs. 12, 6, 3 or 1 annually.

These members form the general body. The general body elects every year (i) the president, (ii) the secretary, (iii) the chairman of the executive committee and (iv) the executive committee consisting of 15 persons of which not less than five are from rural areas. In 1957 there were 200 members of the institution.

The hostel has at present a 12 room building in addition to a kitchen and dinning dooms. Every year about 60 students take advantage of the hostel. Government grant is received for the messing charges of the students. During 1955-56 the income and expenditure of the institution was Rs. 8,936 and Rs. 10,564 respectively.

Prince Shivaji Maratha Boarding House.

The Prince Shivaji Maratha Boarding House was founded in 1920 to Provide as far as possible, free boarding lodging education and other incidental facilities to poor, intelligent and deserving students from Bahujan Samaj studying in secondary schools and colleges; to inclulate in them patriotism and interest in social service, spirit of self-reliance and self-respect; and to grant loans to students to pursue education outside, if sufficient facilities are not available locally.

The day to day affairs of the institution are looked after by an executive committee elected by the general body of members (260) in 1957. The membership of the institution consists of following classes: (i) patron, (only the chatrapati can be the patron); (ii) vice-patrons, persons paying Rs. 1,000 or more; (iii) supporters, persons paying Rs. 500 or more; (iv) honorary life-members, persons paying Rs. 200 or more; (v) life-members who are of three kinds viz., persons paying Rs. 100, Rs. 75 or Rs. 50; (vi) ordinary members are of five kinds viz., persons paying Rs. 5, Rs. 2, Re. 1, As 8 and As. 4 per month.

The executive committee consists of 12 persons of whom nine are elected by the general body and three are elected by the Past Students' Association. The committee chooses its chairman and appoints a treasurer.

The general body passes the annual report and statement of accounts. It also elects the president and vice-presidents.

The institution was established under the patronage of the then Maharaja of Kolhapur with 10 students. By 1956, 150 students were provided accommodation. Since 1956, lodging and boarding facilities are being provided to about 200 to 225 students including 40 free students. By 1957 more than 2,200 students had completed their education and left the hostel.

In Kolhapur City, the institution runs two branches which have extensive buildings. The institution has also been given lands and open sites in the city from which it gets some income. The value of the landed property and buildings, as on 31st March 1957, was Rs. 1,21,900 and Rs. 1,91,500 respectively. During 1956-57 the institution received Rs. 20,115 and spent Rs. 21,478.

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