For a person to live happily, it is essential to have basic needs such as a home, education, employment, values, and also access to entertainment. Through the ‘Ekal Hub’ initiative of the Cine Chourangi project, efforts will be made to provide these fundamental facilities to people in rural areas. This will help improve the Happy Human Index of the people in these regions, expressed Union Minister Mr. Nitin Gadkari.
The ambitious ‘Ekal Hub’ project, which aims to bring together modern entertainment, education, and knowledge to rural Maharashtra under the Cine Chourangi initiative of the Late Laxmanrao Mankar Smruti Sanstha, was inaugurated on Saturday in the MIHAN area of Nagpur. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Mr. Nitin Gadkari as the chief guest, along with actor, director, and producer Mr. Riteish Deshmukh, and President of Late Laxmanrao Mankar Smruti Sanstha and Director of the Cine Chourangi project Mr. Atul Shirodkar. The ‘Ekal Hub’ was formally inaugurated with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp and ribbon-cutting by the dignitaries.
Appreciating the work of the Mankar Trust and Atul Shirodkar, Nitin Gadkari said that Cine Chourangi is an integrated hub of knowledge and entertainment. The project has emerged from a sensitive vision aimed at removing socio-economic backwardness in society and ensuring social progress. The initiative aims to reach every village and will create opportunities for skill development, training, and employment guidance for women and youth. This project is expected to bring socio-economic transformation in rural areas.
In his introductory remarks, Atul Shirodkar stated that the Late Laxmanrao Mankar Smruti Sanstha, which has been working in the field of education for over 30 years, has so far provided educational opportunities to nearly 30,000 students in Naxal-affected regions of Vidarbha. As a result, the dropout rate in these areas has been reduced to almost zero. Through the ‘Ekal Hub’ project, the organization now aims to reach around 150,000 students across Maharashtra. The project will provide employment opportunities to rural youth while creating a unique blend of education, culture, and entertainment.
Earlier, a documentary presenting detailed information about the Ekal Hub was screened. The program was compered by Shyamal Deshmukh, while Atul Shirodkar delivered the vote of thanks. Among those present on the occasion were Marathi actor, theatre and film producer and director Ajit Bhure, office bearers of Late Laxmanrao Mankar Smruti Sanstha including CA Milind Kanade, Prashant Bopardikar, Dhananjay Bapat, Dr. Upendra Kothekar, Murlidhar Chandekar, Raju Hadap, Anil Joshi, Niranjan Deshkar, Balasaheb Anjankar, Rajkumar Badole, and Bhupendra Shahane.
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Entertainment Should Be Accessible and Affordable – Riteish Deshmukh
Riteish Deshmukh said that while growing up in a place like Latur, they had to travel to cities for education and entertainment. Like other basic necessities, these too are essential human needs and should be accessible and affordable. The ‘Ekal Hub’ project will create opportunities for education and employment along with entertainment in rural areas. He added that Atul Shirodkar’s work is progressing with the speed of a bullet train and that he has done remarkable work in several fields. With a vision of bringing positivity to rural areas, Cine Chourangi has undertaken the ‘Ekal Hub’ project.
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About the ‘Ekal Hub’ Project
The project will include a cinema theatre with two screens (seating capacities of 125 and 75) equipped with advanced projection technology, along with an education center and small commercial spaces. The operating model of these centers is also unique. From 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., programs related to health awareness, agricultural training, digital literacy, skill development, literacy campaigns, and other educational initiatives will be screened. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., family-friendly films in Marathi, Hindi, English, and other regional languages will be shown. During the prime time slot from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., new and popular films will be screened. Marathi films will be given special preference, providing rural audiences with access to quality cinema.
In the second phase of the project, there are plans to establish ‘Ekal Hub’ centers in about 20 talukas across the Vidarbha districts of Akola, Amravati, Bhandara, Buldhana, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Nagpur, and Yavatmal. In subsequent phases, the initiative will be expanded to other regions of Maharashtra as well.
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