Several students’ unions of the Mumbai University organised a drive to collect relief material for people living in the flood-hit Kolhapur and Sangli districts, on the Kalina campus on Wednesday.
The unions appealed to teaching and non-teaching staff, and the student fraternity to cooperate. They collected packaged food, foodgrains, clothes, blankets, first-aid medicines, sanitary pads, stationery, utensils, plates, storage bins, and even veterinary medicines.
Those who participated included the University of Mumbai Academic Staff Association (UMASA), Mumbai University Officers Welfare Association, University of Mumbai Employees Association, representatives of Educational Employees Welfare Association, representatives of Maharashtra University Backward Employees Association, representatives of University of Mumbai Credit Society, Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS), All India Students Federation and Chhatra Bharati.
“We managed to collect ₹41,000 from students, teachers, employees and officers at the university, and ₹11,000 contributed by five other unions. The total collection is ₹96,000, barring the various goods,” a representative of the unions said.
The unions requested people to deposit consumer durables and other products in good condition at the Department of Physical Education from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. for the next couple of days.
CYSS general secretary Mahesh Samant said, “Our objective is to serve humanity. The unions worked together with great camaraderie.”
Mangesh Gurav, member, Mumbai University Employees Union said those who contributed did not do it just as students, professors or university staff, but as good samaritans.
Dr. Anil R Bankar, president, UMASA, said, “We are trying to collect maximum donations in the form of grocery and daily use items. Our drive will continue till Friday, and Saturday our team will visit the affected areas and distribute the items.”
