Philanthrophy

Corona Warrior

For the last two years, all of us have been living in a state of uncertainty due to the coronavirus. When the virus struck in 2020, we faced a confusing situation. Nobody knew who should help whom and who should console whom. Many people lost their employment; many labourers could not get even their daily meal. During the corona times, I received most of the mental support from my hobbies, and also some new decisions I took during this period. Rather than panicking, I thought of how I can help people in whatever small way I can.

Thousands of migrated labourers and poor people live in Panvel. As many of them had lost their work, they faced the question of survival. We, with our Hash Kitchen, helped these needy people. Hash Kitchen provided food to such people during the corona times.

We distributed the packets of cooked Khichadi at Hash Kitchen. Many people could survive during these difficult times due to Hash Kitchen. I realised how we can use our businesses for the help of people. Hash Kitchen also helped many workers living in slum areas.

Also, the old age homes and orphanages needed support. There are many such centres around Panvel. We provided them with grains, oil and various such stuff. Perhaps due to their blessings we could keep helping the needy people by overcoming all the challenges during the corona times.

All the hospitals also faced the challenge of blood shortage during the corona times. Under these testing circumstances, we built trust among people, persuaded them to donate blood and provided the collected blood to the hospitals.

The times of corona were also testing for me as a mother and for all of us as a family. We lost one of our very dear family friends. The corona virus hit our house also. My son was infected with the corona virus and we had to admit it in a hospital. It was impossible that such a young kid would be admitted in a hospital alone. I decided to take all the risk and accompany him in the hospital. It was indeed risky for both of us and for our family too. However, the mother in me decided firmly to be with my son's side. I stayed in the hospital till he was recovered and discharged. We faced such times that tested our courage.

Rural Development

We decided to bring our thoughts in reality. We decided to reach out to the people who do not generally get any kind of support. So, we formed a charitable trust after the name of Narayan Laxman Tamboli. This trust provides help to the needy people round the year.

We live at Panvel, near Mumbai. Although Panvel is not far from Mumbai, it is situated on the threshold of Konkan and Mumbai. There are many1 small villages and hamlets around Panvel. Even though these places are situated on the border of a metropolis, they have not received many basic facilities. We thought of uplitiing their standard of living. I think that if they are to again a respectable standard of living, the process should start from education. I know from my own experience that when one gets education one can find the ways to progress easily.

I was thinking of helping the rural children educationally. I distribute books and notebooks to the children every year. We also provide them uniforms. All these initiatives are run in the villages around Panvel.

Healthcare

Panvel is an important city on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and Mumbai-Goa Express Highway. It is a crucial place on the map of road travel. And it is also known as a city which helps those who meet unfortunate accidents on the highways. There are all kinds of hospitals in Panvel. This is the first centre for medical assistance for the people coming from Konkan and Pune. So, the hospitals in Panvel and New Mumbai need large amount of blood every year.

We organise blood donation camps to fulfil this need. I realised from this initiative that we can have a 'blood relation' with people from all state. We organise such blood donation camps and also tree plantation initiatives on the occasion of birth anniversary and death anniversary of our relative.

Social Awareness

It is physical hygiene of women. We know that many people do not get necessary facilities. Physical hygiene is dependent on many things. Women cannot give proper attention to their physical hygiene due to lack of education, misunderstandings, poverty, and lack of cleanliness. Every woman undergoes a period of puberty. She undergoes various physical and mental transformations during this process. We need to educate her about the importance of hygiene in this phase of her life. With this thought in mind, I observed the villages in the vicinity of Panvel. I talked to the women and girls in the villages. Most of them did not have much information about the physical hygiene that is so crucial during the periods. I found that many of them use a simple cloth or some traditional means during the periods. I decided to inform them about sanitary pads. I informed them about how to take care of ourselves during the periods, how to keep hygiene, how and why to use sanitary pads and how to dispose of the pads after usage. We also provide properly packed sanitary pads to these women.

As I get more and more engaged in such social work, I have continued pursuing my hobbies. I have always loved modelling. It gives you a special kind of confidence. With the same confidence I could reach the final stage of the 'Diadem Mrs India Legacy 2021' competition. In this competition I was honoured by 'Mrs. India beauty with purpose, people choice' and Mrs. India Legacy. Subsequently I was also honoured as brand ambassador of NGO 'Masik satya'. In year 2022 Marathi film actress Tejaswinj Pandit awarded me as “Maharashtra Udyojika Puraskar'.

Free sanitary pad distribution and medical health check up camp at Panvel, Near Nere Village Bus Stand, Maharashtra on Menstrual Hygiene Day, 28th May 2022

I strongly believe that women and girls, while they look after their families, should give some time to the things that they love. So, I wanted to build a platform for women. With this motivation, we, at Harshu Tours and Travels, organise an exhibition on every International Women's Day where women can exhibit their art. The participant women get an opportunity to speak confidently on such occasions and develop their personality.

We have built a temple of Lord Shankar at Usarli village near Panvel. This temples gives us peace of mind and strength. We also experience a special joy when we help people through this temple.

This work has been widely applauded and it has received many awards. Recently, an honourable award like Lokmat Women Achievers Award was bestowed on our work. We were also hailed as Corona Warriors.

This is perhaps the best recognition I have received for my journey so far.

Finally, I would like to say one more thing ...

I have decided to donate organs after my death.