India MS Day celebration held by MSSI, Bengaluru Chapter was a grand event. The main supporters behind the success of this event were Rotary Bengaluru Orion Gateway, Rotary RAGAMS, Rotary Rajmahal Vilas, Rotary Abilities, Bosch & Omega Healthcare. MSSI Bengaluru Chapter is grateful to the entire team for their support towards a noble cause. We were able to create awareness for more than 400 people who had gathered for the event.
A Medical Camp was organised by MSSI Bengaluru Chapter at Sparsh Hospital Auditorium, Infantry Road on 17 December 2022. A Wheelchair was donated to PwMS Freeda at the camp. Christmas & New Year gifts were also given to all PwMS & doctors. Dr Rajesh B. Iyer, Dr Soujanya, Neurology Dept. & Dr Tejas, Urology Dept. of Sparsh Hospital were also a part of the camp.
An Awareness event on MS was organized by RAGAMS (Rotary Action Group Against Multiple Sclerosis) through a Photography Exhibition along with the International Fellowship of Rotarian Photographers (IFRP) and Thank God It’s Saturday (TGIS) at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath from 11th to 13th November 2022.
This year MSSI Bangalore Chapter partnered with The Rotary Club and RAGAMS (The Rotary Action Group Against Multiple Sclerosis) to celebrate the lives of people with MS, their support networks and advocate for better services for them.
This is the first time in the world that 30 Rotary Clubs joined hands together to celebrate World MS Day which was a stepping stone in creating awareness about MS to the vast group. A display of photographs depicting invisible symptoms added more significance to this event. The Bangalore MSSI Chapter chose to break down stereotypes and do a fashion show with 14 people with MS walking the ramp. Every model walked with excellent confidence and a love for life!
An Entertainment program – Virtual Concert was held on Oct 2nd 2020 to entertain all MS persons & their family members to bring a change for them during the pandemic which was well-received by all the chapters.
To commemorate India MS Day an Awareness program cum panel discussion was held at PMSSY Hospital (Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana) – Victoria Hospital Campus on 07 Feb 2020.
More than 100 people had gathered which includes MS persons, caretakers, Doctors, Volunteers, Government officials etc.
The Chief Guest & Speakers for the event were:
Institution:
The program started with lighting the lamp by the Chief Guest, Actor Srinath, Smt. Geetha Patil, Mr. Umesh, Dr. Praveen Kumar & Narayan Rao – MS person.
The invocation was rendered by Ms. Shruti followed by welcome address by Mr. Punkaj Gupta.
Mementoes were given to all the dignitaries present. Chief guest Veteran Actor Srinath spoke about the difficulties faced by MS affected persons & also told the audience that MSSI Bengaluru Chapter has organized this program as a platform for MS persons to discuss their difficulties & problems faced with the panel of Doctors & Government officials & to make use of this rare opportunity. He also wished all MS persons to follow as per the Doctor’s advice & stay healthy.
MS persons Geetha Balaji & Gautam Kashyap were given an opportunity to share their experience & challenges faced after their diagnosis of MS.
Dr. Manoj Alluri spoke on the topic About MS followed by Neuro Rehabilitation in MS by Dr. Nirupama. C. Dr. Shashikanth, Yoga therapist taught a few exercises on Mind & Body Relaxation.
After the yoga session, a Panel Discussion was held which was moderated by Mr. Punkaj Gupta. It was a good interaction between the Doctors, Government Officials & MS persons. Mr. Umesh Chandrashekar & Smt. Geetha Patil explained about the various schemes to be availed through UDID card. MSSI also submitted a project proposal to Smt. Geetha Patil & Mr. Umesh Chandrashekar at this point of time to take it forward to the concerned Government officials.
Main points mentioned in the project proposal were:
Objectives – Rehabilitation centre cum office for MSSI
Smt. Geetha Patil, Deputy Director Dept. of the Empowerment of Differently Abled & Senior Citizens assured us that she would take it forward. She also invited the MSSI Committee to meet her next week to take this proposal forward.
Finally, Mr. Punkaj Gupta rendered Vote of thanks & thanked all the dignitaries, Doctors, MS persons, caretakers & volunteers for their support in attending this event & making it a grand success.
As a part of Disability Week Bengaluru Chapter showcased the #My Invisible MS campaign photographs at ANZ, Bengaluru. More than 500 people visited the kiosk and Shankar Subramanian gave a talk on disability etiquettes and invisible disabilities.
To Commemorate World MS Day MSSI Bengaluru Chapter hosted a photography exhibition – Seeing the Unseen depicting the pictures of Invisible Symptoms of MS.
The Exhibition was held from 29th to 31st May 2019 at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Bengaluru which explored the voice of MS persons about their Invisible Symptoms.
Chief Guests for the event was Rotarian Suresh Hari, District Governor RMV Club, Ms. Vasanthi Hariprakash – Social media influencer & Journalist, Rotarian Rajaram & Punkaj Gupta, Hon. Secretary of MSSI, Bengaluru Chapter.
World MS Day program started with the lighting of the lamp by the chief guests Mr. Viresh Oberoi – MSSI President, Mrs. Renuka Malaker – National Hon. Secretary MSSI, Guest of Honor RJ Melodee, Mr. Mariappan, Asst. Director – Dept. of Empowerment of Differently Abled & Senior citizens, Karnataka Government. The invocation was rendered by MS person Kavita Jayaram followed by Welcome Address by Mr. Punkaj Gupta.
WMSD Representative Mr. Shankar Subramanian spoke about MSSI & WMSD. Mr. Mariappan spoke about various aspects of the Disability Act & about the implementation of UDID card in Karnataka. He also assured of his possible assistance towards MSSI from the Government end.
A panel discussion was held followed by press interaction.
PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION HELD FROM 1ST TO 10TH MARCH 2019
A solo exhibition was held by Mr. Punkaj Gupta, Hon. Secretary to create Awareness cum Fund Raising
Along with Honeycomb Creative Support. The inauguration was held on March 1st 2019 at the Honeycomb Art Gallery which was inaugurated by Mr. Anand Sharan, Senior Photographer & Mentor, Felicitation by Noufel, Founder & MD of Honeycomb Creative Support (P) Ltd., & Vote of thanks was rendered by
Mr. K. A. Prasad, Senior Managing Committee Member of MSSI.
Mr. Punkaj was generous to contribute the sale proceeds of the photographs towards MSSI. It was a good awareness for the public for the entire exhibition of ten days wherein more than 700 people had visited the gallery.
Also during the exhibition Awesome, three events took place like:
Instant playback theatre was performed by Ranji David based on the experiences of the audience after seeing some of the photographs.
Musings on the spot by Navoneil Bhattacharya where he, along with the entire audience, wrote instant poetry on some of the photographs.
Instant painting by Mithila Ketkar along with the audience on their individual canvas of their interpretation of some of the photographs was held.
To Commemorate India MS Day MSSI Bengaluru Chapter conducted two days events. On February 2, 2019, an awareness bike rally was conducted from Omega Healthcare Management Services Pvt. Ltd. to NIMHANS in which around 80 Bikers consisting of Rotarians, Rotaractors of Presidency College, Volunteers, Committee Members of MSSI and MS Persons. Mr. Purushothama Reddy, Senior Vice President – Finance and Head- CSR of Omega Healthcare Management Services Pvt. Ltd. flagged off the Rally. The Rally covered about 9.5 kms stretch & reached NIMHANS. It was a good Awareness among the public throughout the stretch.
Sumptuous breakfast was ready at NIMHANS by the time the Bikers reached the venue. MS persons Y& the NIMHANS team received the Bikers. As per the plan, everybody assembled at the seminar hall of NIMHANS. Formal inauguration was done by Dr.Gangadhar, Director, Registrar & Doctors of NIMHANS.
Dr. Netravati, Assistant Professor, Neurology welcomed the group. Dr. Gangadhar gave a brief speech on MS & the association of NIMHANS with MSSI from a long time. Green Mementos were given to all the dignitaries present for the occasion.
Panel discussion was held under Dr. Sathish Chandra, Neurologist & past Director of NIMHANS along with a team of Doctors specialized in various fields. After the panel discussion Creative Movement Therapy was held which was enjoyed well by the whole audience present.
Mr. V.S. Basavaraju, State Commissioner for Disability, Govt. of Karnataka gave a speech on different governmental benefits and projects.
