Mr. Millind Ballal
President of Rotary Club of Midtown, Editor of
"Thane Vaibhav"

Tell us something about yourself?
I am basically a printing technologist. Won a gold medal for standing first, id my arts from Osmania university. Presently, I edit local daily Thane Vaibhav. I am also staff reporter for Times Of India. Writes a humorous column "Talavatle Chandane" every Thursday.

Since When you have been associated with this club?
I have been a charter member of Rotary Club of Thane Midtown. Presently I am the President. My father Late Narendra Ballal and Smt. Kumudini were presidents of Thane and Thaneuptown clubs respectively

What have been the achievements of the club?
My main aim was to remove misconceptions about Rotary amongst general public. I undertook projects which the community really needed
For Example: I started free newspaper libraries at Kalwa &Civil Hospital, dug up a pond for forest department, created 'Smrutiran' conducted medical camp for TMT drivers, truckdrives eye camps for adivasi children.

As a president of the club what has been your achievements for the club?
My biggest achievement was increasing membership by almost 130% From 30 to 68 which is a record. Lake ecosystem was a novel project. Distributed paper bags during Ganpati to collect used flowers

What is the clubs agenda for the coming months?
Holding vocational guidance camp for students, holding a blood - group checkup for
auto-rickshaw drivers

Tell us something about Thane Vaibhav - a daily newspaper, how I started?
Thanevaibhav is the first Marathi Daily newspaper of Thane District. It was started by My Late father Narendra Ballal in 1975. The newspaper was started with an intention of creating a social, cultural & political as well as sports platform for local people who were neglected by Mumbai newspaper

As a citizen of Thane, do you have any message for Thaneites?
Thane has witnessed a remarkable progress in last few years. The people of Thane must participate in the day to day activities of the city. Unless the people are not productive, the politicians as well as administrators will not be pressurized to carry out their duties.

As told to Thaneweb.com