From Lifesaving Pediatric Surgeries to Marathi Literary Celebrations
The Rotary Club of Thane Premium
Marathi Bhasha Diwas: The Rotary Club celebrated Marathi Bhasha Diwas on February 27, 2026, with a vibrant Granth Dindi and traditional music. The event featured Pustak Wachan and Kavita Wachan sessions, alongside an insightful talk honoring literary icons P L Deshpande and V V Shirwadkar (Kusumagraj). Interactive cultural games, led by Supriya Lad Kasat, and regional musical performances added a lively touch. Following the overwhelming response, Club President Sonali Gandre announced that this celebration will now become an annual tradition.
Nikshay Mitra Project: In a resolute step toward a Tuberculosis-free India, Rotary International District 3142 has amplified its commitment to the central government’s Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan through its flagship Nikshay Mitra Project. Throughout 2026, clubs across Thane, Navi Mumbai, and surrounding regions have adopted hundreds of underprivileged TB patients to address critical nutritional gaps which is the leading risk factor for treatment failure.
Partnering with local administrative bodies like the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), clubs, including RC Thane Premium, RC Thane Green City, RC Thane Lake City, and RC Navi Mumbai Airport City, are distributing monthly specialised nutrition food kits containing protein, multi-grains, and staples. Beyond physical nourishment, Rotarians provide psychological and motivational support to ensure patient compliance, transforming public healthcare goals into an impactful grassroots movement.
Pediatric Heart Surgeries: Thousands of children born with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) face critical survival odds due to the high cost of medical care. In a powerful response, the Rotary Club of Thane Premium is spearheading lifesaving pediatric heart surgeries. Over the past 11 years, the club has facilitated more than 700 surgeries at Jupiter Hospital and KIMS Hospital. This year alone, 320 surgeries are being performed by an expert medical team led by club member Dr Sriniwas. The initiative is powered by a ₹1.48 crore Rotary Global Grant, corporate CSR funding (Birla Group, Raymond Group, Tosoh India, Fermenta Biotech), District 3142 Rotary Clubs, and individual donors. Together, they bridge the financial gap for underprivileged families. While these surgeries give children a second chance at life, hundreds remain on the waiting list. The Rotary Club appeals to corporations and citizens to donate generously or join Rotary to support this life-changing mission.
“Sutah Pranada”: Since 2014, the Rotary Club of Thane Premium has spearheaded Project ‘सुतः प्राणदा’ (Saving a Child’s Life), founded by renowned pediatric surgeon Dr Laxmikant Kasat. Over the last 12 years, the initiative has facilitated 212 non-cardiac surgeries for underprivileged children, ranging from newborns to 18-year-olds, at Thane’s Kaushalya and Medicare hospitals. The project has raised over ₹1.05 crores through a transparent model where donors pay hospitals directly. Funding relies on monetary contributions from Rotary Club of Thane Premium, 45 partner Rotary clubs, private trusts, and citizens, alongside heavy medical subsidies and fee waivers from Dr Kasat himself. Dr. Kasat has treated rare, complex, and stigmatising conditions through the project, including 35 successful surgeries to correct undescended testes and secure future fertility for young boys. He also performed a lifesaving lung removal on a 9-month-old infant raised solely by his elderly grandmother, and corrected an extraordinarily rare case of polydactyly in a 7-month-old born with 24 fully formed digits. This final surgery not only relieved the baby’s physical pain but also rescued his family from severe neighborhood ostracisation and social stigma, giving him the chance to grow up living a normal life.