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Vashi2Panvel.Com: Navi Mumbai: January 25: “Shantivan Mitra Melava” took place at Shantivan, Panvel on Sunday. This is the yearly meet of all members as well as well wishers of Shantivan held here every year. Shantivan, is spread over a 122-acre plot in Wakdi village, off the Panvel- Matheran road.

This ashram has been treating and rehabilitating leprosy patients for more than 50 years now. In this yearly meet the main purpose is to meet all the people working for a social cause and felicitate a few doing out standing work in it.

This year, Dr Rani Bang, who has dedicated her life for the cause of tribals in Gadchiroli, and has already got a Maharashtra Bhushan, was felicitated by Former Chief Justice and chairperson of Shantivan, Chandrashekar Dharmadhikari. She was awarded in the name of Shantabai Dhamanaer, who herself was a great social worker. Dr Rani while addressing the thousands present said “ This award reminds me of my mother and mother-in-law, as they too were housewives but did all they could for the society”.

Pointing to the women in the audience, she said that self-confidence is most important to call oneself ‘progressed’. Here she mentioned that one will never she a rape case in a tribal area, a girl has a choice to choice her life partner, so she made all think on who is more developed, a Mumbai girl or here tribal sister. While pointing to the political scenario in India she said as a doctor I feel bad when some one sitting in WHO, UN makes health polices for my villages. She blamed the ministers who said recently that beer and wine is not alcohol, infact as a doctor she said its consumption is 110% bad. She said there is no corruption in her tribal area or no theft, but in the so-called developed areas the condition is worst.

“Friendship with the people with whom you are working is the first step towards development but here we do not know the names of our Corporators how will we become their friends?”

Rambhau Kapse, a veteran social worker was awarded with Rs 51,000 in the memory of Bhausaheb Dhamankar. This amount he distributed in two organizations. Rs.30, 000 was given to an NGO working for the ‘Batkya Vimukte Jamati Vikas Pathisthan’ and Rs.21, 000 to an NGO working for Tribal (Adivasi) women’s development. Rambhau Kapse here said that he has distributed the award to the people who are working for the society by not bothering about their own lives. Therefore it was an honour for him to do so.

Amongst the others to be felicitated at Shantivan were veteran media person Vijay Kuvlekar for his unbiased news and blogs, Govindrao Shinde, a senior volunteer of Shantivan, Dr Ravi Verma, a Ayurvedic doctor who practises in Dhule with the Ashram, Vittha bai, cook at Shantivan and a few others. Vijay Kuvlekar here said that the need of the hour is to preserve the humanity in humans, which is getting lost somewhere. “Bharat and India (rural and urban) are two countries, which need to merge for its development to happen in the true sense. I am proud to be a part of a function where human values are awarded.”

Vijay Kuvlekar is one of the extinct media persons who are not ready to compromise with their principles of life, said another senior journalist here.

The felicitation function came to an end with the thoughts of Former Chief Justice Chandrashekar Dharmadhikari. He appreciated the work done by all volunteers and also said, “The day our so called developed cities’ girls develop in the real sense i.e. they take their own decisions, the country will progress.” He pointed here that the mentality of the society at looking at a female child should change. While talking about Shantivan, he pointed that he will be happy to close it when all the leprosy patients will be accepted by the society.

Supriya Sule, Rajaya Sahba member and daughter of Agricultural Minister Sharad Pawar, was also one of the invitees but due some urgent work she did not attend the programme, informed officials.


Kartiki Shastry