WOW
DISCON 2015 - A Brief Report
The Annual District
Conference of Dist.3140 “WOW DISCON 2015” was held on 31st January
and 1st February 2015 at NSCI, Worli, Mumbai. More than 25 rotarians, anns and rotractors
from our Club attended the event which was described as the largest Rotary
District Conference ever with participation of over 2500. For the first time, the Conference was
streamed live on Internet and again for the first time, participants could ask
and vote for questions to the Speakers through their smartphones which were
moderated and flashed on the giant screens.
The highlights and
achievements of WOW DISCON 2015 included:
- · Signing of an MOU with Yes Bank for pan-India joint CSR initiatives
- · Invitation of Hon’ble Minister, Smt.Smriti Irani, Minister for HRD, Government of India to Rtn.Shekhar Mehta, RI Literacy Mission to for an MOU with Govt. of India to bring back 100,000 children back to school as also discuss other areas of co-operation with Rotary;
- · On the spot participation and support by Hon’ble Minister, Smt.Smriti Irani in raising funds aggregating over Rs.75 lacs for girl child education;
- · And finally, the biggest and most popular icon of Bollywood, Shri Amitabh Bachchan offering to be the Brand Ambassador for Rotary T-E-A-C-H Programme with the super-intelligent Director of hits like Cheeni Kum and Paa agreeing to design and produce promotional audio-visuals with the star. for the campaign as his contribution to the Rotary cause.
- · Shri Amitabh Bachchan also agreed to shake hands and pose for a photo with anyone from the participants willing to announce donation of Rs.11 lacs for the literacy programme which resulted in spot collection of Rs.70 lacs by the District Team.
Indeed a most productive
Conference ever.
The galaxy of learned
speakers at this two-day conference included:
·
- Shri Ajay Piramal, Chairman of Piramal Group and Brahmakumari Sister Shivani who spoke on India @ 75 : Vision 2022
- · Shri Robinder Sachdev, Head ImageIndia, Shri Rajiv Jalota, IAS & Rotary Peace Scholar and Ms.Jodie Underhil of Waste Warriors leading the discussions on ‘Swachh Bharat – a Reality’
- · Dr.Suresh Advani, Cancer Specialist, Dr.Vishal Gupta, Diabetes Specialist, Dr.Shirish Hastak, Strokes Specialist and Ms.Yasmin Karachiwala – Health Expert led the discussion on ‘Jo Fit Hai Who Hit Hain’
- · Shri Nadir Godrej, Mg.Director, Godrej Industgries and Shri Prahlad Kakkar, Advertising Guru spoke on ‘Cultural / Societal Evolution’
- · Smt.Indu Shahani, Ex-sheriff of Mumbai and Principal of H.R.College and Ms.Shaheen Mistry – Teach for India spoke on ‘Enlightening Minds’
- · Ms.Cindy Ryan (Dirty Wall Project), Ms.Asha Mittu (Janavi Trust), Shri Mathew Spaice (Magic Bus), Dr.JOckin Arputham (Padmashri & Noble Prize Nominee), Dr.Arunan, Project Director – Mars Orbiter Mission, Vice Admiral (Retd.) Krishanan were felicitated along with four Veer Chakra Awardees
- · Dia Mirza and Neha Dhupia, the Bollywood starlets, spoke their mind on the ‘Future of Entertainment’
- · Shri Amitabh Bachchan and Shri R.Balki were interviewed live by reputed film journalist Omar Qureshi to know their minds on social causes espoused by them.
-Rtn.Aslam Merchant
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