MUMBAI, January 12, 2009: Active and Former Scouts donated blood for the victims of the Mumbai terror attacks on 26th Nov, 2008. The Maharashtra State Bharat Scouts & Guides, Mumbai & the Maharashtra State Scout Guide Fellowship held a huge blood donation camp on 12 Jan, 2009 at the Scout Pavilion, Shivaji Park, Mumbai.

Scouts donating blood

The Camp was held in conjunction with the function to honor Scouters/Guiders in the State with the Governor of Maharashtra giving away the prizes.

Introduced by Smt Anagha Deole, State Secretary, Maharashtra BSG the camp saw a large number of Scout Masters & Guide Captains in attendance from all over Maharashtra alongwith ISGF members from the Mumbai and neighboring areas. Ms Deole urged those present to generously donate blood. The J. J. hospital Blood Bank professionally managed the entire camp and there was a huge response to her appeal.

State Chief Commissioner Shri B. I. Nagarale (IAS Retd), inaugurated the camp. While speaking on the occasion he said that the terror attack on Mumbai claimed many innocent citizens, Police officials, commandos and security staff in Taj Hotel, Trident Hotel, Mumbai CST Railway station and other places. On 3 Dec, 2008, we paid tribute to them through a condolence meeting. He urged all district branches & staff to conduct blood donation camps on 12 Jan, 2009 to provide blood for the victims.

On the occasion, Shri Vasantrao Kale, State Commissioner Scouts, Smt Vijaya Deore, State Commissioner Guides, Shri Satish Khanna, Working President, Shri S K Agarwal, President Maharashtra State Scout Guide Fellowship, Shri Vishnu Agarwal, Secretary, Greater Mumbai Unit and members of the Indian Scout Guide Fellowship were present along with hundreds of Scout Master/Guide captains who were invited for the various functions.

Scout Officials, Masters, Captains, staff, fellowship members and general public donated blood generously. The camp was managed very professionally by MSW Pratap Dalvi Dr Ramesh Pachare of the J J Hospital. State Secretary, Smt Anagha Deole, State Training Commissioner Shri A B Shinde, Shri Ashish Pawaskar, State Organising Secretary – ISGF, Smt Shobhana Jadhav & Shri K A Mahale were instrumental in making sure that camp had such a huge response.