The Indian Express                17.09.2013

Dharavi mandal bags BMC's first prize for organ donation campaign

Dharavi's Shri Hanuman Seva Mandal has been named the best mandal in Mumbai in a competition conducted by BMC.

Among 83 entries, three top mandals were chosen on basis of parameters that include community service, creativity and cleanliness.

"In previous years, winners were from areas like Borivali, Dahisar and Ghatkopar. It is encouraging to see BMC pick a winner from a slum locality like Dharavi," said Girish Walawalkar, secretary of Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS).

A panel of three jurors, two of them artists and the third a social activist, toured all competing mandals to examine decorations, maintenance and cleanliness, while also learning of their community service.

"At Borivali's Bal Vikas Mitra Mandal, we saw a huge arch constructed from 35,000 used plastic bottles," Vilas Gurjar, one of the jurors, said.

The plastic bottles were collected from all around the city by mandal workers. A total of 15 men worked on the arch for 25 days to erect the grand structure.

"We preferred economical, inventive decorations over lavish, indulgent ones. Service to community by the mandal was also an important factor," Gurjar said.

President of Shri Hanuman Seva Mandal, Nana Jagannath, said, "We organised an organ donation camp at our mandal. So far, 15 donors have registered for donating different body parts. To encourage organ donation, we produced an eight-minute film featuring donors from the past. We show this film every day at our mandal."

Parel's Mahadevachi Wadi Te Vageshwari Mandal, which won the second prize, organised a "Save Water" campaign to address water scarcity in the city.

Vile Parle's Bal Gopal Mitra Mandal won the third prize for its 18-ft Ganesha idol made from tissue paper. President of the mandal, Mohan Jadhav, said, "We make our idol from tissue paper every year. It takes only four men to carry our paper-made Ganesha idol."