Under the auspicious guidance of Srila Lokanath Swami Maharaj, the revered disciple of Srila Prabhupada, the founder Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Annamrit Foundation Nagpur has launched a significant initiative to distribute free meals regularly to the relatives of patients in the general ward at the Central India Institute Of Medical Science (CIIMS) Hospital, Bajaj Nagar.
The initiative began today, with meals being prepared in a centralized kitchen at Ramanuj Nagar, Kalamna Market, Bharatwada Road, a facility graciously built by Smt. Swarnlata and Shri Govinddasji Sarraf (Tumsarwale). The food distribution program will provide free lunch and dinner to those in need, supported by various generous donors.
The inaugural event was marked by the felicitation of distinguished guests. Praveen Tapadia, former President of VIA and Chairman of CIIMS Hospital, honored Ajay Sancheti, former MP and Chairman of SMS, who served as the Chief Guest. Special Guest Nilesh Sathe, retired Executive Director of Life Insurance Corporation of India and Dr. Shyamsunder Sharma, Chairman of Annamrita Foundation Nagpur, were also recognized with bouquets.
Key contributors from CIIMS who played a vital role in supporting the initiative include trustees Anil Parikh (Vice Chairman), Mukesh Agarwal (Secretary), Sanjay Rathi, Vijay Umesh Sharma, G.M. Javanjal, and esteemed doctors Dr. Lokendra Singh (President), Dr. Vijay Agarwal (Vice President), Dr. Nitin Chandak, Dr. Neeraj Baheti, Dr. Shirish Deshpande, and Dr. Sanjeevani Kelkar.
The CIIMS management constructed a dedicated food distribution room within the hospital compound. Ajay Sancheti, along with other guests, formally inaugurated the facility by cutting the ribbon and performing a traditional coconut-breaking ceremony with camphor (Kapur) aarti. Rajendran Raman, Manager of Annamrita Foundation Nagpur, along with directors Bhagirath Das and Praveen Sahni, assisted in the puja and ribbon-cutting.
The ceremony concluded with all guests participating in the distribution of meals to hundreds of relatives of patients from the newly inaugurated food distribution center. The event saw the active involvement of CIIMS trustees, doctors, and many other distinguished invitees, including Dr. Madhusudan Sarda, Anil Sarda, Nagesh Jain, Mahesh Lahoti, Mahesh Jhade Patil, Subhash Lahoti, Ramashankar Agarwal, Ramanuj Asawa (Company Secretary), Anil Bhagdikar, K.V. Suresh, Vivek Deshpande, Vinod Agarwal, Ad. Suresh Mehadia, representatives from Rimchand College (Infocepts Foundation), Girish Kothari (C.S.), Satyanarayan Sharma, Nand Kishore Prabhu, and others.