MH Governor Rao says spirit of philanthropy declining now there are more rich people than past

Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao Sunday said the spirit of philanthropy was declining though there are more rich people in the country now than in the past. Rao was speaking at a function to felicitate noted cancer specialist Dr Sultan Pradhan.

"Today there are more rich people in India than in the past. But the spirit of philanthropy is declining. We need to revive philanthropy and reward philanthropic individuals," he said.

"A century ago, several philanthropic people of Mumbai, including Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, David Sassoon, Nana Sunkersett and others, built hospitals, sanatoriums, dharamshalas and schools from their own money," he said. "Time has come for each one of us to discharge individual social responsibility for the benefit of society," the governor said.

He said that more cancer hospitals were needed and the existing ones had to be strengthened, adding that more "rugna seva sadan" were required to offer shelter to relatives of patients. Public-private partnership (PPP) can work wonders in the field of social service, Rao said.

Speaking about gutkha addiction in Maharashtra, Rao said that it was shocking to learn that schoolchildren in Gadchiroli were falling prey to the vice. "Even though gutkha is banned in the state, people have devised new ways to package and sell gutkha illegally.

I dread to think what will happen to these children by the time the damage is done," he said. Cancer treatment is expensive, mutilating and time consuming, he said, adding that several families are ruined when one of their kin gets afflicted by the disease.

"We need a multi-pronged strategy to protect people from consuming tobacco in all forms. I wish and hope that Ayushman Bharat: Pradhan Mantri Jan Aroyga Yojana will help poor cancer patients avail treatment at the best hospitals," he said.

Rao Sunday bestowed the Dhanwantari Award, instituted by Dr B K Goyal Heart Foundation, to Dr Pradhan.

(With inputs from agencies.)