Health
Meet Ajay Dhama: Wind beneath Sonu Soods wings in handling migrant crisis during COVID-19
Sonu Sood and Ajay Dhama
Sonu Sood and Ajay Dhama?
India hailed Bollywood actor Sonu Sood and officially termed him as the Migrant Messiah? of the country during COVID-19 crisis. But not many know the wind beneath the actors wings. Often referred to as the backbone of the actors relentless efforts to handle the countrys worst migrant crisis so far, Bollywood film producer Ajay Dhama and Sood go back a long way. Their association began when the duo became friends while pursuing engineering in Nagpur.
Sonu Sood and Ajay Dhama
Dhama, during COVID-19 crisis, has been taking care of the vast co-ordination, permissions required for interstate travel, distribution of food and water for the migrants and much more. He has even helped a few drivers of Bollywood actors to get back to their hometowns. Dhama, who distributed over 5000 masks to people and the residents of a few societies in Shastri Nagar in Mumbai’s Andheri area, has produced films including Trishna, Tutak Tutak Tutiya and Rockin’ Meera.
Excerpts of interaction with Ajay Dhama?
You have lent a helping hand to Sonu Sood in sending migrants to their respective homes across India. Tell us about your association with him and how did this initiative materialise?
Sonu has been a friend for many years now. We have known each other since our engineering days at YCCE (Yeshwantrao Chavan College of Engineering) in Nagpur. We even collaborated for a film. The idea of the initiative came from Sonu. He understands the hardships of people who leave their homes for Mumbai in search of means to earn a livelihood. Many of his other friends then joined him in his mission to send migrants home. Initially, Sonu incurred the expenses and then gradually industry insiders and influential people chipped in and offered to volunteer.
How many migrants have you been able to send back to their homes so far?
I think approximately 32,000 migrants have been sent home. This is a shared feat of the people who came forward to help us. Also, a big thanks to Maharashtra government; it appreciated and supported our efforts.
Sonu Sood and Ajay Dhama
Do you think it was a right decision to send migrants home amid the Coronavirus scare?
Considering the fact that COVID-19 brought with it an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, sending migrants home was the right decision. They had no means to earn a livelihood due to the lockdown and there was no way to know for how long it would’ve continued.
Did Sonu or you fear that either of you could be infected
Certainly, but we did follow all the safety measures. I did fear of getting infected. I think some fear is necessary to undertake caution. This disease has turned the panic mode on in the entire world, so, to be honest, I was scared, but I am lucky to have been able to contribute to Sonu’s initiative.
Nagpur News
RMBRCN celebrates Charter Presentation & Installation, Rina Sinha becomes Charter President
The Rotary Means Business chapter of Rotary Club Of Nagpur (RMBRCN) celebrated their Charter Presentation and Installation of Board on September 17, 2023 in a crisp official ceremony at Hotel Centre Point, Nagpur.
Rotary Means Business encourages Rotarians to support the success of their fellow Rotarians by doing business with them and by referring others to them.
Charter President Past President Rtn Rina Sinha presided over the ceremony. Renowned entrepreneur and Rotarian Aspi Bapuna, Chairman of Bapuna Group, was the Chief Guest and Rtn Namita Sharma, President of RCN, was the Guest of Honour.
The Board of Directors of RMBRCN include Rtn Navneet Jain, Vice President, Rtn Mohammed Master, Honorary Secretary, Rtn Sanjay Aggarwal Treasurer, Rtn Rakhi Bhatia Director Chapter Service, Rtn Rahul Shrivastava, Director Vocational Service, Dr Ruchi Choudhry, Director Membership Development, Ranjana Duseja, Director Attendance.
Past Rotary District Governor (PDG) Shabbir Shakir, Past Presidents- Bharat Goenka , Khushnoor Chugh, Sanjiv Chugh, Akhtar Parvez, Tejinder Singh Rawal, Alok Goenka, Jerestine Watchmaker, Sandeep Dhodapkar, Sanjay Arora, President RMB Nagpur, and Behram Patel and Amitabh Sinha were present.
President Rina Sinha informed that within a short period of its formation already 48 members representing various businesses have joined the chapter and the numbers are increasing . The Chapter has already crossed 5 crores of business amongst their members and RMB will further strengthen Rotary in membership growth and retention .
Chief Guest Rtn Aspi Bapuna lauded the chapter’s success and reiterated that its comfortable and safe to do business among fellow rotarians as all follow the Four Way Test of Rotary. Jerestine introduced President Rina. Aspi Bapuna presented the charter and installed President Rina Sinha . Rtn Namita congratulated the RMB chapter and informed that this is the new initiative at RCN.The Board was installed by Rina Sinha and all members were installed by the Past Presidents. An exclusive digital Monthly Magazine ‘Growth Engine’ was launched by Editor Niharika Chugh Vali.
Navneet Jain and Rahul Choudhry conducted the referral and thank you session where enthusiastic members informed about their successful business details. Nishchay Sinha launched the social media and MYRMB app which connects members to other chapters digitally, Treasurer Sanjay Agarwal gave treasurers report, Rtn Rakhi Bhatia managed the event. Rtn Parag Datey and Niharika were the Masters of Ceremony (MOCs). Secretary Mohammed Master proposed the formal Vote of Thanks .
Nagpur News
Nitin Gadkari inaugurates double-decker electric bus availed for senior citizens in Nagpur
Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, on Saturday, inaugurated the double-decker electric bus designed for senior citizens in Nagpur. The initiative has been undertaken in association with Ashok Leyland’s CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Committee and Jyeshtha Nagarik Pratishthan.
Executive President of Jyeshtha Nagarik Pratishthan Datta Meghe, Vice Chairman of Ashok Leyland Limited Yash Sachar, CEO of Switch Mobility Mahesh Babu, and other dignitaries were present during the inauguration.
“I am very thankful to Ashok Leyland’s electric vehicle arm ‘Switch Mobility’ for donating an electric bus for our senior citizens. The bus can hold a capacity of 65 people and will benefit a lot to disabled and senior citizens,” Gadkari said.
“We already have a green Electra bus available to us for the past five to six years. Krishna Reddy has taken the responsibility of repairing and providing air-conditioning to the bus, moreover, he is providing us with one additional bus. A Tata Motor bus will be arriving this month as well, giving us a total of four buses to operate. This will solve the issue of waiting list due to the lack of buses for senior citizens in the city.” he added.
With the help of these buses, senior citizens can avail the benefit of free trips to religious places like Ambhora, Adasa, Shegaon, Mahur, Dhapewada, and Kalamb.
Also read: NMC confiscates 117 PoP idols, collects Rs 10,000 fine from seller
Nagpur News
Nagpur: Married man accused of girlfriend’s rape commits suicide on Facebook live
A 38-year-old married man named Manish alias Raj Yadav, on Sunday, committed suicide during a Facebook live-stream after allegedly being accused of rape by his girlfriend and her family in Nagpur.
During the live stream, Manish, who was married and a father to three children, stated that his 19-year-old girlfriend, Kajal, along with her family members demanded a sum of five lakh rupees and threatened to press charges of rape if he failed to do so.
On September 6, the situation became grave as the woman’s family accused him of eloping after Kajal went missing from her residence.
The deceased refused the claims of having any sexual relationship with the woman and identified her, her family, and a photo studio operator responsible for his condition. He, then, jumped into the river.
After the live video surfaced online, Kalamna Police launched a search operation and recovered the deceased’s body from the river. Four people have been detained in the case for questioning. Further investigation is underway.
Also read: NMC confiscates 117 PoP idols, collects Rs 10,000 fine from seller