The mandal, which donates only to individuals, has earmarked Rs2 crore for the facility from the donations it expects to receive during Ganesh festival this year.
For the first time in its 75-year history, the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal (LRSGM) has committed its resources to a specific project: setting up of a dialysis centre for economically backward renal failure patients.
The mandal, which donates only to individuals, has earmarked Rs2 crore for the facility from the donations it expects to receive during Ganesh festival this year.
“We requested the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to lease us a 3,000 sq metre plot in Lower Parel. The project has been approved and the centre will be opened to the public by Dusshera in October,” said Sudhir Salvi, secretary of the mandal.
The centre will have 16 dialysis machines and will also be equipped with a pathological laboratory, where people can get tests done at nominal costs.
Nephrologists agree that the city critically needs a dialysis centre.
“A substantial percentage of the population suffers from renal failure is unable to afford dialysis. There is a long waiting list for treatment at clinics, as kidney patients are required to undergo dialysis thrice a week. However, most undergo dialysis just once in 15 days,” said Dr Jatin Kothari, nephrologist, Hinduja Hospital. Private hospitals charge between Rs1,000 to Rs1,500 for dialysis treatment.
The mandal has also roped in the expertise of Dr Sanjay Oak, dean, KEM Hospital, for the project.
“We spend around Rs2 crore annually on medical aid for the poor. Recently, we opened a library at Lalbaug. We also run daily yoga classes for 300 women, apart from an advanced computer training centre and a 24-hour study centre,” said Satish Khankar, president, LRSGM. “We have a separate outlay for education, and give scholarships to deserving students. We have also paid fees for poor students.”
LRSGM is among the city’s richest mandals, with donations pouring in not only from Mumbai, but from across the world. Last year, the mandal’s Ganeshotsav turnover was around Rs17 crore.
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