Preserve your identity as an activist working for society: Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol

Pune Parivar organises Ganeshotsav Karyakarta Puraskar ceremony; Lokmanya Jeevan Gaurav award for Shrikant Shete, Lokmanya Ganesh Seva award for DCP Sandeep Singh Gill

Pune: Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol on Monday appealed to Ganesh mandal workers to preserve their identity as someone, for whom social work is a priority.

Mohol said, “Society came across a different identity of Ganesh mandal workers during the Covid pandemic. When there was no one on the city streets, mandal workers worked hard for the pandemic-hit people. It is the strength of the Ganesh Festival that a mandal worker can become a corporator, a mayor and a minister of this country. It is not a true identity of a Ganesh mandal worker, who dances to the tune of songs played on DJ music. He is socially aware. He works for society in times of crisis. It is a challenge before mandal workers to preserve this identity.”

Pune Parivar felicitated workers with awards for the distinguished work done during the Ganpati Festival. Kasba Ganpati Mandal President Shrikant Shete was honoured with the Lokmanya Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar. The function was held at the Lady Ramabai Hall in the SP College. Many mandal workers were felicitated by Murlidhar Mohol with the ‘Adarsh Ganeshotsav Karyakarta’ award.

Joint CP Ranjan Kumar Sharma, Punit Balan Group President and Young Entrepreneur Punit Balan, Akhil Mandai Mandal President Anna Thorat, Senior Journalist Vijay Kuvalekar, BJP leader Hemant Rasne, Mahesh Suryavanshi, Pune Parivar President Adv Pratap Pardeshi, Executive President Vinayak Ghate, Vice-President Shirish Mohite and Prakash Dhamdhere were present.

DCP Sandeep Singh Gill was honoured with the ‘Lokmanya Ganesh Seva’ award. The recipients of the ‘Adarsh Ganeshotsav Karyakarta’ award are Amit Palaskar, Sachin Pawar, Ravindra Pathare, Harshad Navale and Ankush Jadhav. Special awards were given to Rudra Garjana Vadya Pathak, Bhalchandra Deshmukh and Yusuf Bagwan.

Joint CP Ranjan Kumar Sharma said, “There is a special place for this festival in our society as not only Hindus but members of all other communities also participate in it. It is not only a religious festival but a social, cultural festival and a festival that celebrates Indian culture. Ganesh mandals should spread awareness through their decorations about social harmony, to stop assaults on women and to curb drug addiction among the youth. This will benefit the new generation and society. The police will support you if you have any problem during celebrations.”

Young Entrepreneur Punit Balan said, “Society’s image of a Ganesh mandal worker is different. But whenever a disaster hits the city, mandal workers rush for help. They not merely work during the 10-day festival but throughout the year. Therefore, Punit Balan Group has provided Rs 3-crore funds to strengthen them financially.”

Vinayak Ghate made the introductory speech. Prakash Dhamdhere proposed a vote of thanks.

I am proud to be a Ganesh mandal worker: Murlidhar Mohol

My public life began with Ganeshotsav and as a mandal worker. An MLA or MP, sometimes, has to put ‘former’ before their title but a mandal worker never becomes ‘former’. I have experienced a different life through the Ganpati Festival. Therefore, I feel proud to be a mandal worker.” – Murlidhar Mohol, Union Minister of State, Civil Aviation & Cooperation