Pune campaign distributes stationery to drought-hit Maharashtra schools
The Bappa Charni Ek Vahi Ek Pen Arpan initiative has gathered 36,000 notebooks and over 20,000 pens for students.
A Ganeshotsav campaign in Pune has gathered 36,000 notebooks and more than 20,000 pens for schools in underserved and drought-prone areas of Maharashtra, according to Urban Acres.
The initiative, named Bappa Charni Ek Vahi Ek Pen Arpan, is run by the Navgrah Mitra Mandal in Kasba Peth. Organiser Aniket Mundada said families facing drought must prioritise essential household needs, which can leave students without necessary stationery.
The collection grew from 24 notebooks in 2017 to 5,500 notebooks by 2025. This year, donations arrived from across India and 11 countries, including Japan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Ireland, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
By October 28, supplies had reached 12 schools in Vidarbha and two schools each in Dhule and Beed. Material was also sent to Zilla Parishad schools in Shindkheda taluka in Dhule and Shirur-Kasar taluka in Beed.
Organisers said around 40 more schools are expected to receive supplies soon. The next phase will target Zilla Parishad schools in Latur, Beed, and Parbhani in Marathwada, as well as schools in Nagpur, Wardha, Chandrapur, Dhule, and western Maharashtra.
The organisers noted that while requests and donations continue to arrive, storage space is currently running short.