Pad Yaatra 1 [ Nashik – Nagapur – Anandwan ]

First Pad – Yaatra
Walk Rally.
origin and startup

Federation’s Project Coordinator Mr Sunil Deshpande’s Innovative Project for awareness of Organ Donation

The legendary Social Worker Late Baba Amte had written a poetry book Jwala Ani Fule while reading one of his poems in which he stated that “We offer lakhs of Bel Leaves to Lord Shiva similarly will anybody undertake a task of offering lakhs of organs to Society ?” He wanted to view such social movement in his lifetime which could not happen.
Sunil Deshpande started thinking that “somebody should do it. But who can be that somebody? Me? Why not?” and he started to work on it. He practiced walking some days and found that, yes! he can walk 20-30 Kms in a day without exhausting.
He told this Idea first to his Wife. After convincing, she got the consent of the mother, son, and daughter. Finally decided to meet the working place of Baba Amte i.e. Anand Van (Warora) by walk.
He decided to go not through the urban areas but had chosen the route on which he can cover the maximum rural population for awareness of a noble cause of Organ Donation.
The main objective was to spread the awareness of Organ Donation among people mainly in rural areas.
It was planned that awareness programs should be in all villages and towns where he was going to stay. He located 45 such destinations. Where he can get support for awareness creating among the young social workers for Organ Donation. Further, he wished the movement should be continued through the social workers who will mainly be the youth.
He declared that –
“I wish to plan next Organ Donation Rally next year and will continue till I remain physically fit.”
. Late Mr. Bheeshmaraaj Bam, the great sports psychological teacher had given him some mental exercises which he practiced daily to keep himself fit mentally.
In the year 2006 in the Nov issue of Readers Digest, he had read an article “Gift of Life” which he liked and realized that a lot of social work in matter is required, In 2012-13, he was President of a Rotary Club and gave momentum to the work of Organ and Body donation. through Rotary. In 1914-15 his senior friend Rtn. D S Deshmukh became District Governor and he shouldered him a responsibility as a District Co-Chairman of Organ Donation in Rotary and he could involve himself more for this work. The work continued further and reached this Organ Donation Walk Rally.

. The Federation of Organ and Body Donation Mumbai supported him for this cause. With him Rtn. Mr. Priyadarshan Bapat from Nashik and Mr. Sharad Dautkhani from Nagpur.
His wife Mrs. Ranjana Deshpande, joined the team as team manager.

He had declared and decided to continue this type of activity every year and Federation promised him to support his activity by welcoming him and including him as Project Coordinator of Federation.

Route of First Padayaatra
This Padayaatraa started from Nashik on 25th nov. at 7 am
The route wasn Nashik–27km–Dindori–18km–Vani–22km–Abhona–14km–Kalvan–29km–Satana–16km–Devala–25km–Chandwad–24km–Manmad–32km–Saundane.–15km– Malegaon–19km–Bodhe–28km–Shiresgoan–17km–Chalisgaon–14km–Waghali–21km–Nagardevala–26km–Pachora–22km–Samner–28km–Jalgaon–17km–Ulhas-Patil-Medical-College–12km–Bhusaval –5km–Deepnagar–25km–Muktainagar–29km–Malakapur–26km–Nandura–20km–Khamgaon–19km–Shegoan–19km–Balapur–26km–Akola–27km–
Chohatta–21km–Akot–28km–Anjangoan–26km–Achalpur–26km–Afazalpur–30km–Amaravati–33km–Mozari–34–Arvi–31km–Kharangan–27km–Vardha–25km–Kelzar–26km–Butibori–27km–Nagpur–27km–Butibori-17km–Sonegoan–33km–Hinganghat–25km–Khambada–23km–Warora–5km–Anandvan——-= Total 1086