Thane: Ganpati mandals pledge help for drought-hit villagers

Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav was started by Balgangadhar Tilak to bring together the people of Maharashtra during our freedom struggle. And today the 10-day celebration have become an event to showcase various causes and also to seek donations. Some Thane Ganesh mandals are using this festival as an opportunity to collect donations for causes like drought relief or even organ donation.

For instance, Saket CHS's Ganpati mandal is busy forwarding the cause of drought affected villagers of Maharashtra. "After I came back from Aurangabad, where I saw the poor condition of starving villagers, we received many calls where people wanted to do something for them," says Sudhir Sharma a businessman from Thane. Last week, he went to Ankathwada in Aurangabad and provided food grains and some cash to two starving families. So, he alongwith the mandal decided to put up donation box at their ganesh pandal urging people to donate wholeheartedly to help these starving villagers. "The money collected in this box will be donated to the chief minister's drought relief fund after the 10-day ganpati visarjan," he says.

While many people easily donate money during pandal hopping, Chandanwadi Ganesh Seva Mandal at Thane, is asking people to donate their organs. They came across the idea after a neighbour died due to lack of kidney, a few years back. "One of the members also donated her eyes and skin posthumously," says Tanaji Kadam, a member of the mandal. "This encouraged us to ask people for organ donation," he adds. So, people can pledge donation of their hearts, lungs, intestines, ear drums, skin, bones, eyes, among others, at this mandal. "We have an organ donation form provided by Rotary Club of Thane, which the visitors have to fill and give us. They will forward it to the appropriate authorities," he says.