Led by the top urban co-op bank in the country-Saraswat Co-op Bank- UCBs in the state of Maharashtra are coming forward to help the flood victims of the state, underlining once again the humane face of the co-operative model.
Responding quickly to CM’s appeal of help for the flood victims, Saraswat Cooperative Bank set an example, motivating others in the process. “Saraswat Bank has handed over a cheque of one crore rupees towards the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for helping the flood affected people in the state”, read UCB’s social media platform.
The bank’s Chairman Gautam Thakur personally handed over the cheque to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, which was later tweeted by the Chief Minister Fadnavis office.
Thanking Saraswat Bank, CM Devendra Fadnavis wrote on his twitter wall, “Thank you Saraswat Bank for contribution of Rs 1 crore towards #CMReliefFund #MaharashtraFloods”.
Besides Thakur, the Saraswat Bank’s Vice-Chairman Shashikant K. Sakhalkar, Senior Director, Kishor V. Rangnekar, Director, Hemant M. Rathi, MD Smita Sandhane, CGM, Ajay Kumar Jain were present during the cheque giving ceremony.
There are other cooperatives in Maharashtra as well that have contributed funds to help the victims. One of the credit cooperatives of the state Shriram Urban Cooperative Credit Society, Dhule contributed Rs 7,77,000 and its’ President Chandrakant Kele Rs 1,11,000 towards the CM Relief Fund.
Rambhau Mhalgi Nagari Sahakari Patsanstha has handed over a cheque of Rs 1 lakh towards the CM Relief Fund. There are many other co-op organizations which are contributing to CM’s Fund according to their capacities, said a source.
Flood fury in the state has been very bad this year. According to the latest information, as many as 43 people have lost their lives in floods and rain-related incidents in the state.
Floods had caused a large-scale destruction in Kolhapur and Sangli districts of western Maharashtra, in addition to Satara, Pune and Solapur districts.
Thane, Nashik, Palghar, Ratnagiri, Raigad and Sindhudurg districts had also received heavy rains.
Meanwhile, the state Cabinet announced Rs 6,813 crore assistance for the flood-hit people, out of which Rs 4,708 crore was allocated to Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara and Rs 2,105 crore for the Konkan region, Nashik and the rest of the affected districts.