Vitthal Sakharam

Vitthal Sakharam Page was born on 21st July 1910 at Bagan in Satara District of Maharashtra. After his graduation, he completed his L.L.B., degree from Mumbai University. His long career covered economics, politics, education, religion, philosophy, literature, social service, culture etc. He also took part in the freedom movement and had undergone imprisonment.

He was elected to the Bombay legislative Council successively in 1952 and 1954 and to the Maharashtra legislative council in 1960, 1966, and 1972 and was its Chairman from 1968 to 1978. During this period he was also Joint President of the Maharashtra Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

He made valuable contribution to various fields of public life. He was appointed to various committees of Government, important Commissions, Boards and Institutions. He was a veteran Gandhian Congress leader. He was Secretary and President of Sangli District Congress Committee and member of All India Congress Committee.

In 1965, he formulated the Integrated Area Development Scheme, popularly known as “Page Scheme” for the integrated development of villages, trades and the amelioration of small land holders, artisans and the craftsmen of agricultural labourers. In 1949, when the Constitution of India was being framed, he wrote an article “Rojgaaracha Hakk” (Right to Employment) and demanded employment guarantee as a fundamental right. In 1969, he persuaded the Government of Maharashtra to implement an employment guarantee scheme on a pilot basis in village Visapur in Sangli District, an unparalleled contribution for the upliftment of weaker sections.

In 1977, the State Legislature of Maharashtra adopted Employment Guarantee Act and passed it. The Scheme then started covering the entire nation. In the same year he was elected the World Vice Chairman of the International Association of Village Governments. The Maharashtra Employment Guarantee Scheme is made for rejuvenating the age-old traditional village industries and to improve the employment, education and standard of living.

He shared his wide and varied experience in the field of public work through articles and lectures in India and abroad. He was honoured with the “Padma Bhushan” and Nyayratna Ramshastri Prabhune Puraskar and was described as “Father of Employment Guarantee Scheme”. Shri Page with his rational and spiritual person, he authored a few books on National Integration which have been prescribed in schools and colleges in U.S.S.R. and translated into English, Japanese and Hindi. He visited England, U.S.A., Canada, Japan and U.S.S.R. for delivering lectures and as a Government of India representative in many Conferences.

India Post is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp on Vitthal Sakharam Page.