Sakal Social Foundation

The collaboration between the Sakal Social Foundation and Pune Municipal Corporation resulted in a successful COVID-19 vaccine initiative. The programme targeted HIV-positive children and teachers above 18 years old in the Manavya organisation, as well as blind children and teachers in the Pune Blind School at Kothrud and Koregaon Park. The joint effort led to the vaccination of a total of 175 individuals, contributing to the protection of these vulnerable groups against the coronavirus.

Sakal Social Foundation (SSF) collaborated with Maharashtra Natural Gas Ltd. (MNGL) and other voluntary organisations to launch an educational campaign promoting road safety and environmental awareness. Operating under the mission 'Clean Pune, Green Pune,' this initiative involved students from the Young Inspirator Network (YIN) and Vidyarthi Sahayyak Samiti. Banners highlighting traffic rules were displayed at multiple crossroads in Pune and PCMC, where responsible riders adhering to traffic regulations were appreciated with roses, and informative flyers were distributed. The campaign spanned a week and commenced at Good Luck Chowk, Deccan, with representatives from MNGL and SSF actively participating in the event.

Sakal Social Foundation (SSF) collaborates with Pune District Co-operative Bank (PDCC) for an effective Nirmalya collection campaign to combat river pollution. Traditionally, during the Ganesh festival, substantial amounts of 'Nirmalya' were immersed along with idols in the river, contributing to pollution. In the past three years, PDCC Bank, in association with SSF, has been leading this initiative, successfully raising awareness about the harmful effects of such immersion. This year's drive collected over 450 tonnes of 'Nirmalya' from seven ghats in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The collected material is then handed over to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for composting, benefiting local farmers. Archana Ghare, Vice President of PDCC Bank, emphasized the bank's commitment to supporting farmers and its dedication to environmentally responsible practices.

Sakal Social Foundation (SSF), in collaboration with Maharashtra Natural Gas Ltd., conducts a proactive tree plantation initiative aimed at combating global warming and enhancing air quality. Recognizing the significance of planting and nurturing trees, the initiative focuses on contributing to a greener city and cleaner oxygen supply. This effort involves planting fifty-five trees at three different locations in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, employing an innovative approach. Students from Sitaram Bibwe School, Yashawantrao Chavhan Vidyalaya, and Municipal School number 54 actively participated in the planting and were entrusted with the responsibility of nurturing the trees. Additionally, nature enthusiasts from the local community joined in planting trees at Taljai Hill in Pune and Durgadevi Hill in PCMC, promoting environmental consciousness among citizens while fostering a healthier ecosystem.

SSF in collaboration with Global Hospital & Research Centre and NIE, organised a health checkup camp aimed at promoting awareness about good health among students and parents. The camp took place at various schools including Dnyanjyoti Vidyalaya, Kirkitwadi, Narayanrao Sanas Vidyalay of Rayat Shikshan Sanstha at Dhayari, Chandrakant Darode Primary & Secondary School, Shivajinagar, and Aranyeshwar Marathi Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Padmavati. Around 1750 students and 370 parents from primary and secondary schools received medical examinations from a team from Global Hospital & Research Centre. The checkup addressed various medical concerns such as ECG, heart issues, kidney stones, female health problems, diabetes, blood pressure, weight, etc. Additionally, dental checkups were provided by M. A. Rangoonwala Dental College & Hospital. Individuals requiring surgery were offered free operations under the Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayi Yojana for the urban poor.