Annual Report 2023-24

Year 2023-24:

As has been happening for last many years, VLS Project is becoming bigger and better every new Rotary year. Year 2023-24 was no exception. We selected record number of 167 new students. The Total VLS Amount reached Rs.1.83 Crores.

·      The VLS Committee decided to release multiple Advertisements, to reach more students. So 4 Ads were released in 6 newspapers. This had a good effect and we received 538 Applications. After removing duplicates, 496 applications remained.

·  Six VLS Groups:  Following the method adopted over the last 3 years, 6 Groups, under their leaders Pradeep Rane, Nitin Kabbin, Rajesh Gupta, Vishal Thakkar, Seema Joshi and Sudhir Joshi scrutinized the forms received. 240 Students were called for interviews on 10th  September 2023, at SMPR High School, Mulund. Lot of our members, including newly joined ones, participated in the interview process. Rtn. Ramesh Motwani hosted the final Selection Meeting in Tanya Mansion. We are grateful to all the Group Leaders and Group Members and Spouses, for diligently handling this huge responsibility.

·  167 Students were finally selected for receiving the scholarship at the cost of more than Rs.1,00,36,451/-, thus crossing the figure of Rs.1 Crore for new students for the first time.

·  794 STUDENTS: With addition of 167 New Students, total number of students zoomed, touching the figure of 794.

·      FUNDING IN 2023-24 Touches Rs.1.83 Crores: The gross Scholarship Disbursement in 2023-24 was Rs.1,82,87,518/-.Along with existing students, we had taken up a target of disbursing Rs.2 Crore in 2023-24. The figure finally touched 1.83 Crore Rupees, given to 237 students.

·      Aarti Industries Ltd.  gave a donation of Rs.25 Lac in November 2023, when we were facing a big funding gap. This is the sixth consecutive year of their donation. Their total donation for this project so far is Rs.1,18,40,000/-. We thank Shri. Rajendra Gogri, CMD of Aarti Industries Ltd. and our own member Deepak Shah. Shri. Rajendrabhai is not only a huge supporter of this project, he is also our mentor and guide.

·  BANYAN TREE ADVISERS PVT. LTD.: CSR Donation of Rs.9,90,000/- was received from Banyan Tree Advisers Pvt. Ltd.  This is the sixth consecutive year of their donation. We sincerely thank Shri. Jigar Shah and other Directors of the company for their generosity. Their Total Donation for this Project so far is Rs. 42,55,000/-

·  Gemini Exports: CSR Donation of Rs.10 Lac was received from Gemini Exports. We Thank Shri. Punit Thakrar for his keen interest in the Project and our own member Rtn. Guljit Singh Luggani for his efforts. Punitbhai, in fact participated in the student interviews, speaking to many students and parents. His enthusiasm was infectious.  We look forward to long term association of Punitjbhai in the project.

·      Shri. Mahesh Bansidharji Agrwal, who was the Chief Guest at Student Get Together on 18th June 2022, gave a donation of Rs.5 Lac, through one of their Group Company CHIRCHIND HYDRO POWER LIMITED. We wholeheartedly thank to Maheshji and our member Rajesh Gupta for the donation.

·  H.D. Fire Protect Pvt. LTD.: Donation under CSR of Rs.3.5 Lac was been promised by  H.D. Fire Protect Pvt. LTD.  We thank Shri. Harish Dharamshi for the proposed donation and our own member Rtn. Dollar Shah for his efforts. We look forward to long term association of Harishbhai and Family in the project.

·  More Girls Selected: Though Girl Students have always been nearly 50% of the selected students (Purely on their Merit), throughout the 12 years of the Project, this year was the third consecutive year, where Girls outnumbered boys (85 Girls and 82 Boys). 3 Cheers for all the Girls.

·  The students were handed over the Scholarships, during a function on 10th December 2023. Our own member, Shri. Hanskumar Shah, Chairman Hemant Surgical Industries Ltd. and a well known Philantrophist, was the Chief Guest of the function. Hanskumarji has donated Rs.11,53,500/- for VLS in 2023-24, a record for a Single Member Donation.

·      29 Students completed their repayment during 2023-24.

·  Annual Get Together: Yearly Get Together of VLS Students was held on 30th June 2024. Centennial District Governor Rahul Timbadia, was the Chief Guest. He was introduced by Deepak Lala. Impressed with the project, Rahulji spontaneously announce a donation of Rs.1 Lac for the project. 29 Students, who had completed repayment, were felicitated. The day long programme had following training sessions for the Students.


Rtn. Devendra Jain: Know your legal rights (Intro by Rtn. Tara Malde)
Rtn. Hanskumar Shah: My Mantra for Success (Interviewed by IPP Nirmal Ganatra)
Rajan Gaokar: Preparation is the Key (Intro by R/Ann Manjula Koppa)
Rtn. Punit Thakkar: Don’t be afraid of failures (Intro by Rtn. Viren Gandhi)
Rtn. Rajendra Dhulla: Personal Finance

·  Our own member Rtn. Viren Gandhi has been providing help in organizing the Utilization Certificate, which we provide, to our CSR Donors. Thanks Viren.

·  Rtn. Arihant Lodha has been doing all the online payments, that need to be done on College Websites. Thanks Arihant.

·  Rtn. Dollar Shah, as usual takes care of Venue, Decoration, Catering, Invitations and Banners for all VLS Functions. Thanks Dollar.

·      VLS Volunteers: In 2023-24 VLS Volunteers continued their good work. were actively involved. Here are 2 Highlights of the stupendous work, done by the VLS Volunteers.
During July 2023 to June 2024, Total repayment received is Rs.42,23,083/-

In all 159 Students are doing regular repayment.
Three Cheers for all the following Volunteers.
Arihant Lodha     Bharati Shah       Dipti Gosrani        Deepak Lala
Hitesh Ganatra Jitendra Mavani Komal Gupta       Manjula Koppa       

Nutan Dhulla Parul Shah           Priya Agarwal     Rachana Gada

Ramesh Motwani Ruby Luggani      Seema Joshi        Sudhir Joshi        
Tara Malde Vaishali Mavani Vijay Thapar        Vishal Thakkar

The VLS Committee:
Nirmal Ganatra              Ashwin Malde                Hitesh Ganatra

Hanskumar Shah           Dollar Shah                      Rajesh Gupta
Dr. Rajesh Agarwal       Arihant Lodha                 Seema Joshi          

Sudhir Joshi