Ganesh mandals lend helping hand to flood victims

The Sarvajanik Ganeshotsava mandals in the city swung into action to help the flood victims who have not yet received help in any form even after over a month has elapsed following the July 26 devastation.

Many of them have planned to do so in a phased manner, and the first phase has already been completed.

The helping spirit of the mandals is reflected in what a member of the Vitthalbhai Ganeshotsava Mandal, Dadar, said, "When we can lend our help in the Kargil cause and Gujarat's earthquakes and floods, how can we sit inactive when disaster has befallen our own people."

Mandals have already cut their expenditure costs in anticipation of less donation this year. However, each of them is ready to organise enough funds for the flood victims.

"We have given a cheque for Rs 25,000 to the relief fund of Mumbai Sakaal (a Marathi daily). The money will be spent in the Panvel region. We don't trust the ministers, so we haven't given it to the Chief Minister Relief Fund. Whatever we will get in our 'Daan Peti' will also go to the flood victims' relief funds," said Sandeep Gharat, secretary, the Ram Maruti Road Ganeshotsava Mandal, Dadar.

The mandal has cut its expenditure from Rs 1.75 lakh to 1.25 lakh. Lalbaug Ka Raja has come up with a hefty sum of Rs 25 lakh to help the flood victims who haven't yet received any relief. The mandal has covered a few areas in Mumbai and Raigad district. The volunteers of the mandal started their relief tasks since August 3.

"We helped people in Kurla, Panvel, Diva, Mumbra and Badlapur. In Raigad, too, we covered two talukas "" Mahad and Poladpur - which include 14 villages like Kondivate, Kotwal and Juie," said vice-president, the Utsav Mandal. Of the Rs 25 lakh, till now Rs 13 lakh has already been spent.

"Rather than money we gave the victims clothes, carpets, food etc and also opened medical camps with nine doctors manning them," said a committee member.

The mandal has plans to revisit the region after the Ganeshotsava festival for the second phase of the relief work. Lalbaug Ganeshotsava Mandal has committed Rs 5 lakh for the relief work in the Mahad taluka of Raigad district.

However, the group's focus has been on the loss suffered by the students' committee of the region.

"The relief will mainly be to the students of the villages - in the form of books, notebooks, dresses, shoes, bags etc. We have targeted all the schools of the region. Our work will start by the next Sunday," said Sanjay Sawant, vice-president of the mandal.

Till now the mandal has made a list of 750 students. The volunteers will find out 600 more probable names in the coming few days.

The villages that the mandal will cover include Vadoli, Thervar, Dasgaon, Juie and Kondivate.

Sri Sarvajanik Ganeshotsava Sansthan, the oldest mandal in Mumbai, this time has limited funds, but the organisation is still committed to extending its help to the flood victims - of around Rs 10,000-15,000 in two villages of Kalyan district.