Vishwastha Parishad (Trustees Symposium), Pune 2016
Today the ‘Vishwastha Parishad, Pune 2016’ was held at Symbiosis Vishwabhavan Auditorium, Senapati Bapat Road, Pune. This Symposium was organized by Public Trust Practioners’ Association and Symbiosis, Pune
Dignitaries present for the symposium were: Shri Sharad Pawar, Former Minister of Agriculture, Government of India, Smt. Sindhutai Sapakal also known as Mother of Orphans, Shri Shashikant Savle, Charity Commissioner, Maharashtra, Shri Shiv Kumar Dighe, Joint Charity Commissioner, Pune Division, Padma Bhushan Dr S.B. Mujumdar, Founder and President, Symbiosis and Dr Vidya Yeravdekar, Principal Director, Symbiosis Society. Trustees from various sectors like education, hospital, temple and NGOs among others were present for the symposium.
Shri Sharad Pawar highlighted that another symposium shall be organized to address the income tax related problems of the trustees. “I appreciate all the work done by trustees till date. Volunteers join trusts to help people” stated Shri Sharad Pawar.
Joint Charity Commissioner, Pune Division, Shri Shiv Kumar Dighe, said, “Maximum support to the drought prone areas in Maharashtra was provided by people from Pune.” He also stated that, “Nana Patekar through his Naam foundation is doing a commendable job of helping people from the drought areas. Trustees should not fear charity commissioner office as we are extending full support to people. We always motivate people who are genuinely interested to start an NGO for a good cause.”
Shri Shashikant Savle, Charity Commissioner, Maharashtra said, “The first ‘Vishwastha Parishad’ was held in Solpaur. Pune, also known as the city of Freedom fighters has 7,50, 000 trusts and 75,00,000 people are employed in these trusts. Change Report will be cleared within a week.” He emphasized that an award ceremony should be organized for People Trusts making an effort for a good cause.
Padma Bhushan Dr S.B. Mujumdar, Founder and President, Symbiosis said, “I am glad that the Parishad is being held in Symbiosis. I appreciate the efforts being put across by Shri Dighe to make Pune a beggar free city.”
Dr Vidya Yeravdekar, Principal Director, Symbiosis Society questioned that “How can a trustee work in tandem with the income tax department and charity commissioner? All trustees face problems with the income tax department even after getting a clearance from the charity commissioner. If the charity commissioner and the income tax department come together in order to resolve trustees problems, it would be a big boon for the trustees.”
Smt. Sindhutai Sapakal also known as Mother of Orphans emphasized that unless one goes through the hardships of being a destitute, people do not realize the need to help them. “Initiating a trustee for a good cause is a hard task, but one has to overcome these hardships and has to be tough in order to do a good deed.”
The Parishad concluded with interactive sessions between the trustees from various sectors with the dignitaries present.
