'Save The Future'

Felicitation ceremony for 'Save The Future' Campaign by Government of India

Ministry of Communications & Information

Technology Department of Posts

Maharashtra Circle Mumbai 

 A vibrant function  at the spectacular Mumbai GPO building, to felicitate the winners of a contest organised by the Maharashtra Postal Circle under the “Save The Future” campaign, seeking suggestions by post and ePost on two parallel tracks “Save the Earth” and “Save the Girl Child”.   

The campaign, envisioned by Col K C Mishra, VSM, Chief Postmaster General, created wide awareness and enthusiasm through the website www.savethefuture.co.in and also effectively utilizing social media viz. facebook (www.facebook.com/campaign Save The      Future) and twitter (https://twitter.com/save the future13).  On social media, the campaign  received more than 15 lakh hits. The response to the contest was overwhelming, with a total of 75018 entries, including 51065 in Marathi, 15329 in English, 3734 in Hindi, 4 in French and 4886 drawings. 

After a warm welcome address by Shri Harish Aggarwal, Postmaster General, Mumbai, Col K C Mishra, VSM, Chief Postmaster General, Maharashtra Postal Circle expressed his gratitude to Shri K Sankaranarayanan, Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra, the Chief Guest, and all the campaign partners. He referred to the Department of Posts as the backbone of the country’s communication system that touches the lives of all citizens through the unparalleled network of over 1.5 lakh post offices. India Post has always been an advocate of social transformation and this campaign has been envisaged as a movement to check the self-destruction by humans on the planet. He announced that the campaign has been selected for the Limca Book of Records as it has had the highest response ever. He appealed to all postal employees, more than 5 lakh of them, and all government and private sector employees to plant at least one tree and nurture it in their lifetimes. India Post will continue to collaborate in such social campaigns with both government and private sector organisations and bridge the gap between them and the common man.

Shri K Sankaranarayanan, Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra, congratulated Col K C  Mishra for envisioning such a unique joint campaign, involving government and non-government organisations. He emphasised that parents need not worry when a girl child is born, as, with equal opportunity she is capable of standing on her own. He called upon everyone to work towards changing mindsets to save the girl child and save the future. The Hon’ble Governor presided over the felicitation ceremony for the winners of the contest.

The jury report was presented by Shri S R Meena, Postmaster General, Pune Region. The jury  selected the best 5 entries received during the “Save the Future” campaign, the 3 best entries from each of the age groups (12 awards), the 3 best entries in Hindi, Marathi and English (9 awards) and  3 best entries from cartoons and sketches (3 awards). The assistance of J.J. School of Arts, Mumbai was taken to evaluate the entries under the painting and cartoon category, while the Department of French Language of Mumbai University evaluated entries in French Among the prize winners, the youngest participant Kum. Rashi H. Parikh is aged 12 years and the oldest participant Shri Madhukar Sadashiv Pansare is aged 80 years. The jury shortlisted 2500 notable entries for public display in the public display hall of GPO.

The jury has also prepared a report, compiling implementable suggestions received, for sharing with government and non-government organizations and the media for further action and debate.  Several suggestions relate to changing mindsets to stop discrimination between boys and girls through appropriate school curricula, eliminating the dowry system and stopping illegal abortions.  Views have also been expressed regarding special educational and health facilities for the girl child. To save the earth, stricter laws on cutting of trees and compensatory afforestation have been sought. There are several suggestions on implementation of pollution control laws, fines on polluting industries and restricting vehicle movement. Positive action to encourage tree plantation and eco-friendly measures has also been suggested.

Shri Navroze Godrej, Executive Director Godrej & Boyce Mfg Ltd, Shri Sundeep Sikka, CEO Reliance Capital Asset Management Ltd and Shri Digambar Naik, renowned TV and Marathi Actor expressed their views on the campaign. The occasion was also graced by Smt Annie Shekhar, MLA Colaba, Shri Praveen Pardeshi, Principal Secretary, Forest Department, Smt Sujata Saunik, Principal Secretary Public Health and Shri Narendre Tole, President, International Collectors’ Society of Rare Items, Pune. Shri D Manoj, General Manager (Finance), Maharashtra Postal Circle thanked all the dignitaries, officials, winners and other guests for their whole-hearted involvement in the campaign.