Venkat Raman
Auckland based Shri Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan New Zealand Limited will become debt-free in the next five years and become financially healthier to undertake community projects, its outgoing President Bhaskar Duvvuru has said.
In a statement issued after the Annual General Meeting of the Sansthan held on Sunday, August 6, 2017 at its Temple Premises at 12 Princes Street in Onehunga, he said that the Trust which owns the Sansthan and the Temple, had repaid $1.45 million of the initial loan of $2.8 million in less than four years.
Innovative fundraiser
“Our ‘Maha Prasad,’ an innovative Fund-Raising Scheme, introduced on the suggestion of
Dr Chandra Bhanu Satpathy, Founder-President of Global Sai Foundation and Retired Director General of Uttar Pradesh Police (revered by Sai devotees as ‘Guruji’) brought us about $310,000 through 620 devotees in 40 months. As we liquidate our bank loan, we hope to implement a major long-term project, fostering the teachings of Baba towards community and social service. We have sought the suggestions of Members of Parliament of Indian origin and community leaders in this connection,” he said.
The Trust undertook Starship Foundation as its Short-Term Project last year with annual donation of $12,000.
The Temple receives regular donations (about $2000 every week), revenue from weddings, other community events, and collections from other special occasions.
Mr Duvvuru said that the Sansthan cooks and serves Prasad for about 1000 devotees every Thursday and that several fundraising programmes have been conducted over the years to support for victims of natural disasters in Fiji and India (Chennai).
Superb Complex
The Complex covers a land area of 2975 Sq Mts with a total built area of 3500 Sq Mts on three levels. It accommodates a dining hall and commercial kitchen on the ground floor, the Main Prayer Hall of 845 Sq Mts on the First Floor, a Community Hall (Sai Centre) with stage, sound & lights and accommodation for two priests.
The Temple receives thousands of people every week, predominantly Hindus, but hundreds of New Zealanders and overseas visitors of varied faiths, including Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism are also among its regular visitors.
New Committee
The Annual General Meeting elected Sainath Nethula to the post of President and Mr Duvvuru to the post of Secretary. Among the other Members of the Executive Committee are Venkateswarlu Kodali (Vice-President), Ramanathan Murugesu (Treasurer), Balachander Shingade, Nalinikanth Thadugoni, Rashmi Patel, Ravi Pondicherry, Ravi Vemulapalli, Shanti Josula, Shivani Arora, Surendra Narayanappa, Uma Devi Rao, Venkata Rama Rao Kadali and Venkatram Reddy Dyavadi.
Photo Caption: The newly elected Executive Committee of Shri Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan of New Zealand Limited, Auckland (Picture supplied).
