NASHIK: Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan has announced financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to city-based 100-year-old Kailas Mutt Trust to help in its efforts of boosting the Vedas and lauded the Mutt's work in the field of social and cultural activities.

Inaugurating a three-day All India Vedic Conference Monday morning, Chavan asked the Mutt's Chief Mahamandaleshwar Swami Sanvidanand Saraswati and other veda experts to submit their proposal regarding setting up of 'ved vidya research centre' at Nashik.

"I will take a decision on the issue after studying the proposal," he said.

He said that Maharashtra is a leading follower of the tradition of sants, sadhus and especially educational activities and promised  all possible help to the Mutt.

Chavan said, “Our late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi had took a step to set up Ved Vidya Pratisthan in Ujjain of Madhya Pradesh and realised his mother’s (Indira Gandhi’s) dream to protect our valuable vedas."

He hoped that the Mutt will pass on the vedic training to the next generation and engage in social and cultural activities.

All India Congress Committee Secretary and its in-charge of Maharashtra, Mohan Prakash Sharma, who accompanied Chavan, Mumbai Pradesh Congress Committee president Kripa Shankar Singh, MPCC chief Manikrao Thakare also addressed the gathering.

Yugal Kishore Mishra, chief of Jagatpuri Ramanandacharya Rajasthan Sanskrit Vishva Vidyalaya, Jaipur and other vedic experts expressed their views on vedas and country's culture during the inaugural function.

 Mahamandaleshwar Swami Sanvidanand Saraswatri, chief of Kailas Mutt was felicitated by the CM on his birthday. Swami Sanvidanand informed that Kailas Mutt was formed in 1918 by Swami Hridayanand Saraswati.