News and pics: Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai (EP)

Mumbai, Aug 19: Bhandari Seva Samithi, Mumbai held their 61st Annual General Body Meeting at Swami Nityananda Hall in Sion West. Samithi president Balakrishna Puttur (Pune) president of the programme lit the traditional lamp and set the meeting in motion.

In his presidential address, he said that modern education is necessary for the empowerment of a community. "If the children are educated, the society achieves progress on its own. Complete literacy is essential for the progress of a society. So Bhandary Society should stress on the education of children. I am herewith donating Rs 2 lacs in order to encourage literacy in the community," he said.

The programme started with prayers by Kachuru Nageshwara Devarasthuthi and Vijay R Bhandari. A silent prayer was held as a homage to departed souls of members and well-known people in the society. Honorary Chief Secretary Prabhakara Bhandary welcomed and gave details of the association and also presented the accounts. Joint Secretary Narayana R Bhandary read the report of previous year.

Former president, advocate Sunder G Bhandary and Balakrishna P Bhandary present in the programme, distributed scholarships to students and congratulated them.

Committee vice president and advocate Shekar S Bhandary, honourary treasurer Pandu P Bhandary, Padmanabha C Bhandary, joint secretary Purushotham M Bhandary, women's wing president Lalitha V Bhandary and secretary Vanitha S Bhandary were present.

Senior dignitaries and several members participated in the programme and S S Bhandary, advocate R M Bhandary, Seetharama Bhandary,
Karunakar Bhandary and others spoke on behalf of the audience and expressed their opinions. Gayatri N Bhandary and Purushotham Bhandary sang patriotic songs. Prabhakar Bhandary proposed the vote of thanks.