‘Onus of development lies on villages, SMG always ready to help’

Pune: “If each and every village takes responsibility of societal development, then all problems can be easily sorted and Sakal Media Group is always bound to contribute in such development activity,” said Chairman of Sakal Media Group (SMG) Pratap Pawar, who is also the Vice-President of Science and Technology Park (STP). 

Pawar was speaking at an event to unveil development works in Chandar village, which is located in a remote region of Sahayadri at a distance of about 20 km from Panshet.
Dilip Band, President of STP, Rajendra Jagdale, Director General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of STP, Director of Sujata Computers Dr Sumatilal Lodha and others were present for the event. 

Pawar said that Paanavadi village near Saswad was facing a water issue. “The village received about 25 inches of rainfall despite which the village was facing a water crisis. Through Sakal Relief Fund, all lakes were again brought to life and now about 45 crore litres water is conserved. The village can go without water for at least three years,” added Pawar.

Pawar also highlighted a similar initiative of social development in which women from Kolhapur were trained to make LED lamps, which was under taken as part of the ‘Tanishka’ initiative. 

“The women were able to earn around Rs 2.5 lakh per year and produced LED lamps of more than Rs 4 crore. Work of Jalyukta Shivaar was completed in about 500 villages. SMG is always committed towards villages ready for social development,” added Pawar.

Dilip Band, President of STP, said that there is need for economic development in the village and so vehicles will be sent on a weekly basis to Chandar village to help locals in transportation of goods. Rajendra Jagdale, Director General and Chief Executive Officer of STP, has helped in building a library, a multi-purpose hall and facilities of utilising solar power in the village. The village has about 50 households.